and  Oinnnla 
Photogravure  — From  Drawing  by  J.   Allen  St.  John 


Illustrated  Sterling  edition 


THE   DRAMAS 


VAUTRIN 

THE  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

PAMELA  GIRAUD 

THE  STEPMOTHER 

MERCADET 


Edited  by 
J.  WALKER   McSPADDEN 


With  Introductions  by 

GEORGE  SAINTSBURY 


BOSTON 
DANA  ESTES  &  COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 


COPYRIGHTED    IQOI 
BY 

JOHN  D.   A  VIL 


All  Rights  Reserved 


CONTENTS 

PART   I 

BALZAC  AS  A  DRAMATIST 

INTRODUCTION xi 

VAUTRIN                            i 

THE  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA           -        -        -        -  155 

PAMELA  GIRAUD 325 

PART  II 

INTRODUCTION v 

THE  STEPMOTHER        - I 

MERCADET 169 


Vol.  xvii 


BALZAC  AS  A  DRAMATIST 

Honore  de  Balzac  is  known  to  the  world  in  general  as  a 
novel-writer,  a  producer  of  romances,  in  which  begin  the 
reign  of  realism  in  French  fiction.  His  Comedie  Humaine 
is  a  description  of  French  society,  as  it  existed  from  the 
time  of  the  Revolution  to  that  of  the  Restoration.  In  this 
series  of  stories  we  find  the  author  engaged  in  analyzing  the 
manners,  motives  and  external  life  of  the  French  man  and 
woman  in  all  grades  of  society.  When  we  open  these  volumes, 
we  enter  a  gallery  of  striking  and  varied  pictures,  which  glow 
with  all  the  color,  chiaroscuro  and  life-like  detail  of  a  Dutch 
panel.  The  power  of  Balzac  is  unique  as  a  descriptive  writer ; 
his  knowledge  of  the  female  heart  is  more  profound,  and 
covers  a  far  wider  range  than  anything  exhibited  by  a  pro- 
vincial author,  such  as  Richardson.  But  he  has  also  the  mar- 
velous faculty  of  suggesting  spiritual  facts  in  the  life  and 
consciousness  of  his  characters,  by  the  picturesque  touches 
with  which  he  brings  before  us  their  external  surroundings — 
the  towns,  streets  and  houses  in  which  they  dwell;  the  furni- 
ture, ornaments  and  arrangement  of  their  .rooms,  and  the 
clothes  they  wear.  He  depends  upon  these  details  for  throw- 
ing into  relief  such  a  portrait  as  that  of  Pons  or  Madame 
Hulot.  He  himself  was  individualized  by  his  knobbed  cane 
abroad,  and  his  Benedictine  habit  and  statuette  of  Napoleon 
at  home;  but  every  single  one  of  his  creations  seems  to  have 
in  some  shape  or  other  a  cane,  a  robe  or  a  decorative  attribute, 
which  distinguishes  each  individual,  as  if  by  a  badge,  from 
every  other  member  of  the  company  in  this  Comedy  of  Life. 

(v) 


vi  BALZAC  AS  A  DRAMATIST 

The  art  of  characterization  exhibited  by  the  author  fasci- 
nates us;  we  gaze  and  examine  as  if  we  were  face  to  face 
with  real  personages,  whose  passions  are  laid  bare,  whose  life 
is  traced,  whose  countenance  is  portrayed  with  miraculousness, 
distinctness  and  verisimilitude.  All  the  phenomena  of  life  in 
the  camp,  the  court,  the  boudoir,  the  low  faubourg,  or  the 
country  chateau  are  ranged  in  order,  and  catalogued.  This  is 
done  with  relentless  audacity,  often  with  a  touch  of  grotesque 
exaggeration,  but  always  with  almost  wearying  minuteness. 
Sometimes  this  great  writer  finds  that  a  description  of  ac- 
tuality fails  to  give  the  true  spiritual  key  to  a  situation,  and 
he  overflows  into  allegory,  or  Swedenborgian  mysticism,  just 
as  Bastien-Lepage  resorts  to  a  coating  of  actual  gilt,  in  de- 
picting that  radiant  light  in  his  Jeanne  d'Arc  which  flat  pig- 
ment could  not  adequately  represent. 

But  this  very  effort  of  Balzac  to  attain  realistic  characteri- 
zation has  resulted  in  producing  what  the  ordinary  reader 
will  look  upon  as  a  defect  in  his  stories.  When  we  compared 
above  the  stories  of  this  writer  to  a  painting,  we  had  been  as 
near  the  truth,  if  we  had  likened  them  to  a  reflection  or  photo- 
graph of  a  scene.  For  in  a  painting,  the  artist  at  his  own 
will  arranges  the  light  and  shade  and  groups,  and  combines 
according  to  his  own  fancy  the  figures  and  objects  which  he 
finds  in  nature.  He  represents  not  what  is,  but  what  might 
be,  an  actual  scene.  He  aims  at  a  specific  effect.  To  this 
effect  everything  is  sacrificed,  for  his  work  is  a  synthesis,  not 
a  mere  analysis.  Balzac  does  not  aim  at  an  effect,  above  and 
independent  of  his  analysis.  His  sole  effort  is  to  emphasize 
the  facts  which  his  analysis  brings  to  light,  and  when  he  has 
succeeded  in  this,  the  sole  end  he  aims  at  is  attained.  Thus 
action  is  less  important  in  his  estimation  than  impression. 
His  stories  are  therefore  often  quite  unsymmetrical,  even 


BALZAC  AS  A  DRAMATIST  vll 

anecdotic,  in  construction;  some  of  them  are  mere  episodes, 
in  which  the  action  is  irrelevant,  and  sometimes  he  boldly 
ends  an  elaborate  romance  without  any  dramatic  denouement 
at  all.  We  believe  that  Honore  de  Balzac  was  the  first  of 
European  writers  to  inaugurate  the  novel  without  denoue- 
ment, and  to  give  to  the  world  examples  of  the  literary  torso 
whose  beauty  and  charm  consist  not  in  its  completeness,  but 
in  the  vigor  and  life-like  animation  of  the  lines,  features, 
and  contours  of  a  detached  trunk. 

It  is  not  surprising,  therefore,  that  when  we  come  to  study 
the  dramas  of  Balzac  we  find  that  the  very  qualities  that  give 
effectiveness  to  a  stage  representation  are  wanting  in  them. 
For  the  qualities  which  make  a  realistic  tale  impressive  render 
a  play  intolerable.  Thus  Balzac's  stage  pieces  are  interesting, 
exciting  and  vivid  in  many  passages,  but  they  cannot  stand 
the  searching  glare  of  the  footlights.  Balzac,  in  the  first 
place,  looked  upon  the  drama  as  a  department  of  literature 
inferior  to  that  of  romance,  and  somewhat  cavalierly  con- 
descended to  the  stage  without  reckoning  on  either  its  pos- 
sibilities or  its  limitations.  He  did  not  take  to  play-writing 
because  he  had  exhausted  his  vein  of  fiction,  but  because 
he  was  in  need  of  money.  This  was  during  the  last  years  of 
his  life.  In  this  period  he  wrote  the  five  plays  which  are 
included  in  the  authorized  edition  of  his  works. 

Balzac's  first  play  was  Vautrin,  and  Vautrin  appears  as 
the  name  of  the  most  astonishing  and  most  original  char- 
acter which  Balzac  has  created  and  introduced  in  the  five 
or  six  greatest  novels  of  the  Comedy.  So  transcendent,  super- 
human and  satanic  is  Vautrin,  Herrera,  or  Jacques  Collin, 
as  he  is  indifferently  called,  that  a  French  critic  has  inter- 
preted this  personage  as  a  mere  allegorical  embodiment  of 
the  seductions  of  Parisian  life,  as  they  exist  side  by  side  with 


viii  BALZAC  AS  A  DRAMATIST 

the  potency  and  resourcefulness  of  crime  in  the  French  me- 
tropolis. 

Vautrin  is  described  in  the  Comedie  Humaine  as  the 
tempter  and  benefactor  of  Lucien  de  Rubempre,  whom  he 
loves  with  an  intense  devotion,  and  would  exploit  as  a  power 
and  influence  in  the  social,  literary  and  political  world.  The 
deep-dyed  criminal  seems  to  live  a  life  of  pleasure,  fashion 
and  social  rank  in  the  person  of  this  protege.  The  abnormal, 
and  in  some  degree  quixotic,  nature  of  this  attachment  is  a 
purely  Balzacian  conception,  and  the  contradictions  involved 
in  this  character,  with  all  the  intellectual  and  physical  en- 
dowments which  pertain  to  it,  are  sometimes  such  as  to  bring 
the  sublime  in  perilous  proximity  to  the  ridiculous.  How 
such  a  fantastic  creation  can  be  so  treated  as  to  do  less  violence 
to  the  laws  of  artistic  harmony  and  reserve  may  be  seen  in 
Hugo's  Valjean,  which  was  undoubtedly  suggested  by  Balzac's 
Vautrin.  In  the  play  of  Vautrin,  the  main  character,  instead 
of  appearing  sublime,  becomes  absurd,  and  the  action  is  ut- 
terly destitute  of  that  plausibility  and  coherence  which  should 
make  the  most  improbable  incidents  of  a  play  hang  together 
with  logical  sequence. 

Balzac  in  the  Resources  of  Quinola  merely  reproduces 
David  Sechard,  though  he  places  him  in  the  reign  of  Philip 
the  Second  of  Spain.  He  went  far  out  of  his  way  to  make 
Fontanares  the  first  inventor  of  the  steamboat;  the  improb- 
ability of  such  a  supposition  quite  forfeits  the  interest  of  the 
spectators  and,  in  attempting  to  effect  a  love  denouement,  he 
disgusts  us  by  uniting  the  noble  discoverer  with  the  vile 
Faustine.  Even  the  element  of  humor  is  wanting  in  his  por- 
trayal of  Quinola — who  is  a  combination  of  the  slave  in  a 
Latin  comedy  and  the  fool,  or  Touchstone  of  Shakespeare. 


BALZAC  AS  A  DRAMATIST  ix 

The  play  is,  however,  ingenious,  powerful  and  interesting  in 
many  passages. 

Pamela  Giraud  is  fantastic  and  painful  in  its  plot.  Bal- 
zac's ideal  woman,  the  Pauline  of  the  Peau  de  Chagrin,  is 
here  placed  in  a  situation  revolting  even  to  a  Parisian  audi- 
ence; but  the  selfish  worldliness  of  the  rich  and  noble  is  con- 
trasted with  the  pure  disinterestedness  of  a  poor  working 
girl  in  all  of  Balzac's  strongest,  most  searching  style.  The 
denouement  is  well  brought  about  and  satisfactory,  but 
scarcely  atones  for  the  outrageous  nature  of  the  principal 
situation. 

Balzac  was  especially  a  novelist  of  his  own  period,  and  the 
life  of  his  romances  is  the  life  he  saw  going  on  around  him. 
The  principal  character  in  The  Stepmother  is  a  Napoleonist 
general  typical  of  many  who  must  have  lived  in  the  first  half 
of  the  nineteenth  century.  The  ruling  passion  of  General 
de  Grandchamp  is  hatred  for  those  who  deserted  the  cause 
or  forsook  the  standard  of  the  First  Consul.  This  antipathy 
is  exaggerated  by  Balzac  into  murderous  hatred,  and  is  the 
indirect  cause  of  death  to  the  General's  daughter,  Pauline, 
and  her  lover,  the  son  of  a  soldier  of  the  First  Empire,  who,  by 
deserting  Napoleon,  had  fallen  under  the  Comte  de  Grand- 
champ's  ban.  The  situation  is,  however,  complicated  by  the 
guilty  passion  which  Gertrude,  the  stepmother  of  Pauline 
and  wife  of  the  General's  old  age,  feels  for  the  lover  of 
Pauline.  The  main  interest  of  the  drama  lies  in  the  struggle 
between  these  two  women,  every  detail  of  which  is  elaborated 
with  true  Balzacian  gusto  and  insight.  We  expect  to  see 
virtue  triumphant,  and  Pauline  united  to  the  excellent  Ferdi- 
nand. When  they  both  die  of  poison,  and  Gertrude  becomes 
repentant,  we  feel  that  the  denouement  is  not  satisfactory. 


x  BALZAC  AS  A  DRAMATIST 

The  jealousy  of  the  woman  and  the  hatred  of  the  man  have 

not  blended  properly. 

But  there  can  be  no  doubt  at  all  that  if  Balzac  had  lived, 
he  might  have  turned  out  a  successful  playwright.  When  he 
began  his  career  as  a  dramatic  writer  he  was  like  a  musician 
taking  up  an  unfamiliar  instrument,  an  organist  who  was 
trying  the  violin,  or  a  painter  working  in  an  unknown  me- 
dium. His  last  written  play  was  his  best.  Fortunately, 
the  plot  did  not  deal  with  any  of  those  desperate  love  passions 
which  Balzac  in  his  novels  has  analyzed  and  described  with 
such  relentless  and  even  brutal  frankness.  It  is  filled  through- 
out with  a  genial  humanity,  as  bright  and  a.s  expressive  as 
that  which  fills  the  atmosphere  of  She  Stoops  to  Conquer  or 
A  School  for  Scandal.  The  characters  are  neither  demons, 
like  Cousin  Betty,  nor  reckless  debauchees,  like  Gertrude  in 
The  Stepmother.  The  whole  motif  is  comic.  Moliere  him- 
self might  have  lent  a  touch  of  his  refined  and  fragrant  wit 
to  the  composition;  and  the  situation  is  one  which  the  author 
could  realize  from  experience,  but  had  only  learned  to  regard 
from  a  humorous  standpoint  in  the  ripeness  of  his  premature 
old  age.  Balzac  makes  money  rule  in  his  stories,  as  the  most 
potent  factor  of  social  life.  He  describes  poverty  as  the 
supreme  evil,  and  wealth  as  the  object  of  universal  aspiration. 
In  line  with  this  attitude  comes  Mercadet  with  his  trials  and 
schemes.  Scenes  of  ridiculous  surprises  succeed  each  other 
till  by  the  return  of  the  absconder  with  a  large  fortune,  the 
greedy,  usurious  creditors  are  at  last  paid  in  full,  and  poetic 
justice  is  satisfied  by  the  marriage  of  Julie  to  the  poor  man 
of  her  choice. 

EPIPHANIDS  WILSON. 


INTRODUCTION 

The  greatest  fame  of  Balzac  will  rest  in  the  future,  as  in 
the  past,  upon  his  novels  and  short  stories.  These  comprise 
the  bulk  of  his  work  and  his  most  noteworthy  effort — an  effort 
so  pronounced  as  to  hide  all  side-excursions.  For  this  reason 
his  chief  side-excursion — into  the  realms  of  the  drama — has 
been  almost  entirely  overlooked.  Indeed,  many  of  his  readers 
are  unaware  that  he  ever  wrote  plays,  while  others  have 
passed  them  by  with  the  idea  that  they  were  slight,  devoid 
of  interest,  and  to  be  classified  with  the  Works  of  Youth. 
Complete  editions — so-called — of  Balzac's  works  have  fostered 
this  belief  by  omitting  the  dramas;  and  it  has  remained  for 
the  present  edition  to  include,  for  the  first  time,  this  valuable 
material,  not  alone  for  its  own  sake,  but  also  in  order  to  show 
the  many-sided  author  as  he  was,  in  all  his  efficiencies  and 
occasional  deficiencies. 

For  those  readers  who  now  make  the  acquaintance  of  the 
dramas,  we  would  say  briefly  that  the  Balzac  Theatre  com- 
prises five  plays — Vautrin,  Les  Ressources  de  Quinola,  Pamela 
Giraud,  La  Mardtre,  and  Mercadet.  These  plays  are  in  prose. 
They  do  not  belong  to  the  apprenticeship  period  of  the  Works 
of  Youth,  but  were  produced  in  the  heyday  of  his  powers,  re- 
vealing the  mature  man  and  the  subtle  analyst  of  character, 
not  at  his  best,  but  at  a  point  far  above  his  worst.  True, 
their  production  aroused  condemnation  on  the  part  of  many 
contemporary  dramatic  critics,  and  were  the  source  of  much 
annoyance  and  little  financial  gain  to  their  creator.  But 

(xi) 


xii  INTRODUCTION 

this  is  certainly  no  criterion  for  their  workmanship.  Balzac 
defied  many  tenets.  He  even  had  the  hardihood  to  dispense 
with  the  claqueurs  at  the  first  night  of  Les  Ressources  de 
Quinola.  Naturally  the  play  proceeded  coldly  without  the 
presence  of  professional  applauders.  But  Balzac  declared 
himself  satisfied  with  the  warm  praise  of  such  men  as  Hugo 
and  Lamartine,  who  recognized  the  strength  of  the  lines. 

The  five  plays  were  presented  at  various  times,  at  the  best 
theatres  of  Paris,  and  by  the  most  capable  companies.  One 
of  them,  Mercadet,  is  still  revived  perennially;  and  we  are 
of  opinion  that  this  play  would  prove  attractive  to-day  upon 
an  American  stage.  The  action  and  plots  of  all  these  dramas 
are  quite  apart  from  the  structure  of  the  Comedie  Humaine. 
Vautrin  and  his  "pals"  are  the  only  characters  borrowed 
from  that  series,  but  his  part  in  the  titular  play  is  new  beyond 
the  initial  situation. 

The  Premiere  Edition  of  the  Theatre  Complet  was  pub- 
lished in  a  single  duodecimo  volume  from  the  press  of  Giraud 
&  Dagneau  in  1853.  It  contained :  Vautrin,  Les  Ressources  de 
Quinola,  Pamela  Giraud,  and  La  Mardtre.  All  prefaces  were 
omitted.  Mercadet  was  not  given  with  them  in  this  printing, 
but  appeared  in  a  separate  duodecimo,  under  the  title  of  Le 
Faiseur,  from  the  press  of  Cadot,  in  1853.  The  next  edition 
of  the  Theatre  Complet,  in  1855,  reinstated  the  prefaces.  It 
was  not  until  1865  that  Mercadet  joined  the  other  four  in  a 
single  volume  published  by  Mme.  Houssiaux. 

Vautrin,  a  drama  in  five  acts,  was  presented  for  the  first 
time  in  the  Porte-Saint-Martin  theatre,  March  14,  1840.  The 
preface,  dated  May  1,  1840,  was  not  ready  in  time  for  the 
printing  of  the  first  edition,  which  was  a  small  octavo  volume 
published  by  Delloye  &  Tresse.  It  appeared  in  the  second 


INTRODUCTION  xiii 

edition,  two  months  later.  The  dedication  was  to  Laurent- 
Jan.1  The  play  was  a  distinct  popular  failure,  but  its  con- 
struction and  temper  combine  to  explain  this.  At  the  same 
time  it  makes  interesting  reading ;  and  it  will  prove  especially 
entertaining  to  readers  of  the  Comedie  Humaine  who  have 
dreaded  and  half-admired  the  redoubtable  law-breaker,  who 
makes  his  initial  entrance  in  Le  Pere  Goriot  and  plays  so  im- 
portant a  part  in  Illusions  Perdues,  and  Splendeurs  et  Mis- 
eres  des  Couriisanes.  Here  we  find  Vautrin  in  a  favorite 
situation.  He  becomes  the  powerful  protector  of  an  unknown 
young  man — much  as  he  picked  up  Lucien  de  Eubempre 
in  Illusions  Perdues,  and  attempted  to  aid  Eastignac 
in  Le  Pere  Goriot — and  devotes  all  his  sinister  craft  to 
his  protege's  material  interests.  The  playwright  is  careful  to 
preserve  some  degree  of  the  young  man's  self-respect.  Chance 
favors  the  two  by  providing  the  unknown  hero  with  worthy 
parents;  and  Vautrin's  schemes  unexpectedly  work  out  for 
good.  As  in  the  story  of  Pere  Goriot  again,  Vautrin,  after 
furthering  matrimonial  deals  and  other  quasi-benevolent  proj- 
ects, ends  in  the  clutches  of  the  law.  Of  Raoul  little  need  be 
said.  He  is  the  foil  for  his  dread  protector  and  he  is  saved 
from  dishonor  by  a  narrow  margin.  The  scene  is  laid  at 
Paris,  just  after  the  second  accession  of  the  House  of  Bour- 
bon, in  1816.  Titles  and  families  are  in  some  confusion  on 
account  of  the  change  of  dynasties.  It  is  therefore  an  oppor- 
tune time  for  Vautrin  to  manufacture  scutcheons  as  occasion 
may  demand.  Since  this  story  of  Vautrin  is  not  included  in 
the  Comedie,  it  will  not  be  found  among  the  biographical 
facts  recorded  in  the  Repertory. 

Les  Ressources  de  Quinola,  a  comedy  in  a  prologue  and 

1  See  "Jan"  in  Repertory. 


Jtiv  INTRODUCTION 

five  acts,  was  presented  at  the  Theatre  de  1'Odeon,  Paris, 
March  19,  1842.  Souverain  published  it  in  an  octavo  volume. 
Balzac  was  disposed  to  complain  bitterly  of  the  treatment 
this  play  received  (note  his  preface),  but  of  it  may  be  said, 
as  in  the  case  of  its  predecessor,  that  it  makes  better  reading 
than  it  must  have  made  acting,  for  the  scenes  are  loosely 
constructed  and  often  illogical.  Our  playwright  yet  betrays 
the  amateur  touch.  It  is  regrettable,  too,  for  he  chose  an  ex- 
cellent theme  and  setting.  The  time  is  near  the  close  of  the 
sixteenth  century,  under  the  rule  of  Philip  II.  of  Spain  and 
the  much-dreaded  Inquisition.  An  inventor,  a  pupil  of 
Galileo,  barely  escapes  the  Holy  Office  because  of  having  dis- 
covered the  secret  of  the  steamboat.  Eeferring  to  the  preface 
again,  we  find  Balzac  maintaining,  in  apparent  candor,  that 
he  had  historic  authority  for  the  statement  that  a  boat  pro- 
pelled by  steam-machinery  had  been  in  existence  for  a  short 
time  in  those  days.  Be  that  as  it  may,  one  can  accept  the 
statement  for  dramatic  purposes;  and  the  story  of  the  early 
inventor's  struggles  arid  his  servant's  "resources"  is  promising 
enough  to  leave  but  one  regret — that  the  master-romancer  did 
not  make  a  novel  instead  of  a  play  out  of  the  material. 
Though  this  is  called  a  comedy,  it  contains  more  than  one 
element  of  tragedy  in  it,  and  the  tone  is  moody  and  satirical. 
The  climax,  with  its  abortive  love  episode,  is  anything  but  sat- 
isfactory. 

Pamela  Giraud,  a  drama  in  five  acts,  was  first  presented  in 
the  Gaite  Theatre,  Paris,  September  26,  1843.  It  was  pub- 
lished by  Marchand  in  a  single  octavo  volume,  in  the  same 
year.  The  action  takes  place  at  Paris  in  1815-24,  during  the 
Napoleonic  conspiracies,  under  Louis  XVIII.  The  Eestora- 
tion  has  brought  its  strong  undertow  of  subdued  loyalty  for 


INTRODUCTION  xv 

the  Corsican — an  undertow  of  plots,  among  the  old  soldiers 
particularly,  which  for  several  years  were  of  concern  to  more 
than  one  throne  outside  of  France.  The  hero  of  this  play 
becomes  involved  in  one  of  the  conspiracies,  and  it  is  only 
by  the  public  sacrifice  of  the  young  girl  Pamela's  honor,  that 
he  is  rescued.  Then  ensues  a  clash  between  policy  and  duty — 
a  theme  so  congenial  to  Balzac,  and  here  handled  with  char- 
acteristic deftness.  We  notice,  also,  a  distinct  improvement 
in  workmanship.  Scenes  move  more  easily;  dramatic  values 
become  coherent;  characters  stand  out  from  the  "chorus"  on 
the  stage.  Pamela  is  a  flesh-and-blood  girl;  Jules  is  real; 
Joseph  is  comically  individual;  Dupre  is  almost  a  strong 
creation,  and  nearly  every  one  of  the  other  principals  is 
individual. 

The  discussion  of  the  other  two  plays  is  reserved  for  the 
succeeding  volume,  in  which  they  appear.  We  shall  there 
notice  still  greater  evidences  of  the  evolution  of  the  play- 
wright. 

J.  WALKER  MCSPADDEN. 


VAUTRIN 
A  DRAMA  IN  FIVE  ACTS 

Presented  for  the  First  Time  at  the  Porte-Saint-Martin  Theatre, 
Paris,  March  14,  184° 


AUTHOR'S  PREFACE 

It  is  difficult  for  the  playwright  to  put  himself,  five  days 
after  the  first  presentation  of  his  piece,  in  the  situation  in 
which  he  felt  himself  on  the  morning  after  the  event ;  but  it  is 
still  more  difficult  to  write  a  preface  to  Vautrin,  to  which 
every  one  has  written  his  own.  The  single  utterance  of  the 
author  will  infallibly  prove  inferior  to  so  vast  a  number  of 
divergent  expressions.  The  report  of  a  cannon  is  never  so 
effective  as  a  display  of  fireworks. 

Must  the  author  explain  his  work?  Its  only  possible  com- 
mentator is  M.  Frederick  Lemaitre. 

Must  he  complain  of  the  injunction  which  delayed  the  pre- 
sentation of  his  play  ?  That  would  be  to  betray  ignorance  of 
his  time  and  country.  Petty  tyranny  is  the  besetting  sin  of 
constitutional  governments;  it  is  thus  they  are  disloyal  to 
themselves,  and  on  the  other  hand,  who  are  so  cruel  as  the 
weak?  The  present  government  is  a  spoilt  child,  and  does 
what  it  likes,  excepting  that  it  fails  to  secure  the  public  weal 
or  the  public  vote. 

Must  he  proceed  to  prove  that  Vautrin  is  as  innocent  a  work 
as  a  drama  of  Berquin's?  To  inquire  into  the  morality  or 
immorality  of  the  stage  would  imply  servile  submission  to  the 
stupid  Prudhommes  who  bring  the  matter  in  question. 

Shall  he  attack  the  newspapers  ?  He  could  do  no  more  than 
declare  that  they  have  verified  by  their  conduct  all  he  ever 
said  about  them. 

Yet  in  the  midst  of  the  disaster  which  the  energy  of  gov- 

(3) 


4  AUTHOR'S  PREFACE 

ernment  has  caused,  but  which  the  slightest  sagacity,  in  the 
world  might  have  prevented,  the  author  has  found  some  com- 
pensation in  the  testimony  of  public  sympathy  which  has  been 
given  him.  M.  Victor  Hugo,  among  others,  has  shown  himself 
as  steadfast  in  friendship  as  he  is  pre-eminent  in  poetry ;  and 
the  present  writer  has  the  greater  happiness  in  publishing  the 
good  will  of  M.  Hugo,  inasmuch  as  the  enemies  of  that  dis- 
tinguished man  have  no  hesitation  in  blackening  his  character. 
Let  me  concludp  by  saying  that  Vautrin  is  two  months  old, 
and  in  the  rush  of  Parisian  life  a  novelty  of  two  months  has 
survived  a  couple  of  centuries.  The  real  preface  to  Vautrin 
will  be  found  in  the  play,  Richard-Cceur-d'Eponge,1  which 
the  administration  permits  to  be  acted  in  order  to  save  the 
prolific  stage  of  Porte-Saint-Martin  from  being  overrun  by 
children. 

PARIS,  May  1, 1840. 

1 A  play  never  enacted  or  printed. 


PERSONS  OF  THE  PLAY 

JACQUES  COLLIN,  known  as  Vautrin. 

THE  Due  DE  MONTSOREL. 

THE  MARQUIS  ALBERT  DE  MONTSOREL,  son  to  Montsorel. 

RAOUL  DE  FRESCAS. 

CHARLES  BLONDET,  known    as    the  Chevalier  de    Saint' 

Charles. 
FRANQOIS  CADET,  known  as  the  Philosopher. 

FIL-DE-SOIE. 

BUTEUX. 

PHILIPPE  BOULARD,  known  as  Lafouraille. 
A  POLICE  OFFICER. 

JOSEPH  BONNET,  footman  to  the  Duchess  de  MontsoreL 
THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL  (LOUISE  DE  YAUDREY). 
MADEMOISELLE  DE  VAUDREY,  aunt  to  the  Duchesse  de  Mont- 
sorel. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL. 
INEZ  DE  CHRISTOVAL,  PRINCESSE  D'ARJOS. 
FELICITE,  maid  to  the  Duchesse  de  Montsorel. 
SERVANTS,  GENDARMES,  DETECTIVES,  AND  OTHERS. 
SCENE:     Paris.    TIME:  1816,  after  the  second  return  oj 
the  Bourbons. 

Vautrin. 


(5) 


VAUTRIN 

ACT  I. 

SCENE  FIRST. 
(A  room  in  the  house  of  the  Due  de  Montsorel.) 

THE   DUCHESSE   DE   MONTSOREL   AND    MADEMOISELLE   DB 

VAUDREY. 

THE  DUCHESS 

Ah !  So  you  have  been  waiting  for  me !  How  very  good 
of  you ! 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 

What  is  the  matter,  Louise?  This  is  the  first  time  in  the 
twelve  years  of  our  mutual  mourning,  that  I  have  seen  you 
cheerful.  Knowing  you  as  I  do,  it  makes  me  alarmed. 

THE  DUCHESS 

I  cannot  help  showing  my  happiness,  and  you,  who  have 
shared  all  my  sorrows,  alone  can  understand  my  rapture  at 
the  faintest  gleam  of  hope. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 
Have  you  come  upon  any  traces  of  your  lost  son? 

THE  DUCHESS 
He  is  found ! 

(7) 


8  VAUTRIN 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 

Impossible!  When  you  find  out  your  error  it  will  add  to 
your  anguish. 

THE  DUCHESS 

A  child  who  is  dead  has  but  a  tomb  in  the  heart  of  his 
mother;  but  the  child  who  has  been  stolen,  is  still  living  in 
that  heart,  dear  aunt. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 
Suppose  you  were  overheard ! 

THE  DUCHESS 

I  should  not  care.  I  am  setting  out  on  a  new  life,  and  I 
feel  strong  enough  to  resist  even  the  tyranny  of  De  Montsorel. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 

After  twenty-two  years  of  mourning,  what  possible  occur- 
rence can  give  you  ground  for  hope  ? 

THE  DUCHESS 

I  have  much  more  than  hope !  After  the  king's  reception  I 
went  to  the  Spanish  ambassador's,  where  I  was  introduced  to 
Madame  de  Christoval.  There  I  saw  a  young  man  who  resem- 
bled me,  and  had  my  voice.  Do  you  see  what  I  mean  ?  If  I 
came  home  late  it  was  because  I  remained  spellbound  in  the 
room,  and  could  not  leave  until  he  had  gone. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 
Yet  what  slight  warrant  you  had  for  your  elation ! 

THE  DUCHESS 

Is  not  a  revelation  such  as  that  more  than  sufficient  war- 
rant for  the  rapture  of  a  mother's  heart?  At  the  sight  of 
that  young  stranger  a  flame  seemed  to  dart  before  my  eyes; 


VAUTRIN  9 

his  glance  gave  me  new  life;  I  felt  happy  once  more.     If 
he  were  not  my  son,  my  feelings  would  be  quite  unaccountable. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 
You  must  have  betrayed  yourself ! 

THE  DUCHESS 

Yes,  perhaps  I  did !  People  doubtless  noticed  us ;  but  I  was 
carried  away  by  an  uncontrollable  impulse;  I  saw  no  one  but 
him,  I  wished  to  hear  him  talk,  and  he  talked  with  me,  and 
told  me  his  age.  He  is  twenty-three,  the  same  age  as  Fer- 
nand! 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 
And  was  the  duke  present? 

THE  DUCHESS 

Could  I  give  a  thought  to  my  husband  ?  I  listened  only  to 
this  young  man,  who  was  talking  with  Inez.  I  believe  they  are 
in  love  with  each  other. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 

Inez,  who  is  engaged  to  your  son,  the  marquis  ?  And  do  you 
think  the  warm  reception  given  by  her  to  his  son's  rival  could 
escape  the  duke's  notice  ? 

THE  DUCHESS 

Of  course  not,  and  I  quite  see  the  dangers  to  which  Fernand 
is  exposed.  But  I  must  not  detain  you  longer ;  I  could  talk  to 
you  about  him  till  morning.  You  shall  see  him.  I  have  told 
him  to  come  at  the  hour  the  duke  goes  to  the  king's,  and  then 
we  will  question  him  about  his  childhood. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 

For  goodness'  sake,  calm  yourself ;  you  will  never  be  able  to 
sleep  this  night.  And  send  Felicit^  to  bed,  she  is  not  accus- 
tomed to  these  late  hours.  (She  rings  the  bell.) 


10  VAUTRIN 

FELICITE  (entering  the  room) 

His  grace  the  duke  has  come  in  with  his  lordship  the  mar- 
quis. 

THE  DUCHESS 

I  have  already  told  you,  Felicite,  never  to  inform  me  of  his 
grace's  movements.  (Exit  Felicite.) 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 

I  should  hate  to  rob  you  of  an  illusion  which  causes  you 
such  happiness;  but  when  I  see  the  height  of  expectation  to 
which  you  have  soared,  I  fear  a  terrible  fall  for  you.  The 
soul,  like  the  body,  is  bruised  by  a  fall  from  an  excessive 
height,  and  you  must  excuse  my  saying  that  I  tremble  for  you. 

THE  DUCHESS 

While  you  fear  the  effect  of  despair  for  me,  I  fear  that  of 
overwhelming  joy. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY  (watching  the  duchess  go  out) 
If  she  should  be  deceived,  she  might  lose  her  senses. 

THE  DUCHESS  (re-entering  the  room) 
Fernand,  dear  aunt,  calls  himself  Raoul  de  Frescas.   (Exit.) 


SCENE  SECOND. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY  (alone) 

She  does  not  see  that  the  recovery  of  her  son  would  be  a 
miracle.  All  mothers  believe  in  miracles.  We  must  keep 
watch  over  her.  A  look,  a  word  might  ruin  her,  for  if  she  is 
right,  if  God  restores  her  son  to  her,  she  is  on  the  brink  of  a 
catastrophe  more  frightful  even  than  the  deception  she  has 


VAUTRIN  11 


been  practicing.    Does  she  think  she  can  dissemble  under  the 
eyes  of  women? 


SCENE  THIRD. 
MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY  AND  FELICITE. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 
Already  here? 

FELICITE 

Her  grace  the  duchess  dismissed  me  early. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 
Has  my  niece  given  you  no  orders  for  the  morning  ? 

FELICITE 


None,  madame. 


MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 


A  young  man,  named  M.  Eaoul  de  Frescas,  is  coming  to 
call  upon  me  towards  noon;  he  may  possibly  ask  for  the 
duchess,  but  you  must  instruct  Joseph  to  bring  him  to  my 
apartment.  (Exit.) 


SCENE  FOURTH. 

FELICITE   (alone) 

A  young  man  for  her  ?  Not  a  bit  of  it.  I  always  said  that 
there  was  some  motive  in  my  lady's  retired  way  of  living ;  she 
is  rich,  she  is  handsome,  yet  the  duke  does  not  love  her;  and 
now  the  first  time  she  goes  out,  a  young  man  comes  next  day 
to  see  her,  and  her  aunt  wishes  to  receive  him.  They  keep  me 
in  the  dark;  I  am  neither  trusted  nor  tipped.  If  this  is  the 


12  VAUTRIN 

way  chambermaids  are  to  be  treated  under  the  new  govern- 
ment, I  don't  know  what  will  become  of  us.  (A  sidedoor 
opens,  two  men  are  seen,  and  the  door  is  immediately  closed 
again.)  At  any  rate  we  shall  have  a  look  at  the  young  man. 
(Exit.) 


SCENE  FIFTH. 

JOSEPH  AND  VAUTRIN. 

(Vautrin  wears  a  tan-colored  overcoat,  trimmed  with  fur, 

over  the  black  evening  dress  of  a  foreign 

diplomatic  minister.) 

JOSEPH 

That  blasted  girl !  We  would  have  been  down  in  our  luck 
if  she  had  seen  us. 

VAUTRIN 

You  mean  you  would  have  been  down  in  your  luck ;  you  take 
pretty  good  care  not  to  be  caught  again,  don't  you?  I  sup- 
pose then  that  you  enjoy  peace  of  mind  in  this  house  ? 

JOSEPH 
That  I  do,  for  honesty  I  find  to  be  the  best  policy. 

VAUTRIN 
And  do  you  quite  approve  of  honesty  ? 

JOSEPH 
Oh,  yes,  so  long  as  the  place  and  the  wages  suit  me. 

VAUTRIN 

I  see  you  are  doing  well,  my  boy.  You  take  little  and  often, 
you  save,  you  even  have  the  honesty  to  lend  a  trifle  at  interest. 
That's  all  right,  but  you  cannot  imagine  what  pleasure  it  gives 
me  to  see  one  of  my  old  acquaintances  filling  an  honorable 


VAUTRIN  IS 

position.  Yon  have  succeeded  in  doing  so;  your  faults  are 
but  negative  and  therefore  half  virtues.  I  myself  once  had 
vices ;  I  regret  them  as  things  of  the  past ;  I  have  nothing  but 
dangers  and  struggles  to  interest  me.  Mine  is  the  life  of  an 
Indian  hemmed  in  by  enemies,  and  I  am  fighting  in  defence 
of  my  own  scalp. 

JOSEPH 
And  what  of  mine? 

VAUTRIN 

Yours?  Ah!  you  are  right  to  ask  that.  Well,  whatever 
happens  to  me,  you  have  the  word  of  Jacques  Collin  that  he 
will  never  compromise  you.  But  you  must  obey  me  in  every- 
thing ! 

JOSEPH 
In  everything?    But — 

VAUTRIN 

There  are  no  buts  with  me.  If  there  is  any  dark  business 
to  be  done  I  have  my  "trusties"  and  old  allies.  Have  you  been, 
long  in  this  place  ? 

JOSEPH 

The  duchess  took  me  for  her  footman  when  she  went  with 
the  court  to  Ghent,  last  year,  and  I  am  trusted  by  both  the 
ladies  of  the  house. 

VAUTRIN 

That's  the  ticket !  I  need  a  few  points  with  regard  to  these 
Montsorels.  What  do  you  know  about  them? 

JOSEPH 
Nothing. 

VAUTRIN  (aside) 

He  is  getting  a  little  too  honest.  Does  he  think  he  knows 
nothing  about  them  ?  Well,  you  cannot  talk  for  five  minutes 
with  a  man  without  drawing  something  out  of  him.  (Aloud) 
Whose  room  is  this? 


14  VAUTRIN 

JOSEPH 

The  salon  of  her  grace  the  duchess,  and  these  are  her  apart- 
ments; those  of  the  duke  are  on  the  floor  above.  The  suite 
of  the  marquis,  their  only  son,  is  below,  and  looks  on  the 
court. 

VAUTRIN 

I  asked  you  for  impressions  of  all  the  keys  of  the  duke's 
study.  Where  are  they? 

JOSEPH  (hesitatingly) 
Here  they  are. 

VAUTRIN 

Every  time  I  purpose  coming  here  you  will  find  a  cross  in 
chalk  on  the  garden  gate ;  every  night  you  must  examine  the 
place.  Virtue  reigns  here,  and  the  hinges  of  that  gate  are  very 
rusty ;  but  a  Louis  XVIII.  can  never  be  a  Louis  XV !  Good- 
bye— I'll  come  back  to-morrow  night.  (Aside)  I  must  rejoin 
my  people  at  the  Christoval  house. 

JOSEPH   (aside) 

Since  this  devil  of  a  fellow  has  found  me  out,  I  have  been 
on  tenter-hooks — 

VAUTRIN  (coming  back  from  the  door) 
The  duke  then  does  not  live  with  his  wife  ? 

JOSEPH 
They  quarreled  twenty  years  ago. 

VAUTRIN 
What  about? 

JOSEPH 
Not  even  their  own  son  can  say. 

VAUTRIN 

• 

And  why  was  your  predecessor  dismissed  ? 


VAUTRIN  15 

JOSEPH 

I  cannot  say.  I  was  not  acquainted  with  him.  They  did 
not  set  up  an  establishment  here  until  after  the  king's  second 
return. 

VAUTRIN  (aside) 

Such  are  the  advantages  of  the  new  social  order;  masters 
and  servants  are  bound  together  by  no  ties;  they  feel  no 
mutual  attachment,  exchange  no  secrets,  and  so  give  no 
ground  for  betrayal.  (To  Joseph)  Any  spicy  stories  at 
meal-times  ? 

JOSEPH 
Never  before  the  servants. 

VAUTRIN 
What  is  thought  of  them  in  the  servants'  hall? 

JOSEPH 
The  duchess  is  considered  a  saint. 

VAUTRIN 
Poor  woman !    And  the  duke  ? 

JOSEPH 
He  is  an  egotist. 

VAUTRIN 

Yes,  a  statesman.  (Aside)  The  duke  must  have  secrets,  and 
we  must  look  into  that.  Every  great  aristocrat  has  some  palt  rv 
passion  by  which  he  can  he  led;  and  if  I  once  get  control  <;f 
him,  his  son,  necessarily — (To  Joseph)  What  is  said  about 
the  marriage  of  the  Marquis  de  Montsorel  and  Inez  de  Chria- 
toval  ? 

JOSEPH 

I  haven't  heard  a  word.  The  duchess  seems  to  take  very 
little  interest  in  it. 


16  VAUTRIN 

VAUTRIN 
And  she  has  only  one  son !    That  seems  hardly  natural. 

JOSEPH 
Between  ourselves,  I  believe  she  doesn't  love  her  son. 

VAUTRIN 

I  am  obliged  to  draw  this  word  from  your  throat,  as  if  it 
were  the  cork  in  a  bottle  of  Bordeaux.  There  is,  I  perceive, 
some  mystery  in  this  house.  Here  is  a  mother,  a  Duchesse  de 
Montsorel,  who  does  not  love  her  son,  her  only  son !  Who  is 
her  confessor? 

JOSEPH 

She  keeps  her  religious  observances  a  profound  secret. 

VAUTRIN 

Good — I  shall  soon  know  everything.  Secrets  are  like 
young  girls,  the  more  you  conceal  them,  the  sooner  they  are 
discovered.  I  will  send  two  of  my  rascals  to  the  Church  of 
St.  Thomas  Aquinas.  They  won't  work  out  their  salvation 
in  that  way,  but  they'll  work  out  something  else. — Good-bye. 


SCENE  SIXTH. 

JOSEPH   (alone} 

He  is  an  old  friend — and  that  is  the  worst  nuisance  in  the 
world.  He  will  make  me  lose  my  place.  Ah,  if  I  were  not 
afraid  of  being  poisoned  like  a  dog  by  Jacques  Collin,  who 
is  quite  capable  of  the  act,  I  would  tell  all  to  the  duke;  but  in 
this  vile  world,  every  man  for  himself,  and  I  am  not  going  to 
pay  another  man's  debt.  Let  the  duke  settle  with  Jacques; 
I  -ajn  going  to  bed.  What  noise  is  that  ?  The  duchess  is  get- 
ting up.  What  does  she  want  ?  I  must  listen.  (He  goes  out, 
leaving  the  door  slightly  ajar.) 


VAUTRIN  17 

SCENE  SEVENTH. 

THE  DUCHESS  DE  MONTSOREL  (alone) 

Where  can  I  hide  the  certificate  of  my  son's  birth?     (She 

reads)  "Valencia July,  1793."    An  unlucky  town  for  me ! 

Fernand  was  actually  born  seven  months  after  my  marriage, 
by  one  of  those  fatalities  that  give  ground  for  shameful  accu- 
sations !  I  shall  ask  my  aunt  to  carry  this  certificate  in  her 
pocket,  until  I  can  deposit  it  in  some  place  of  safety.  The 
duke  would  ransack  my  rooms  for  it,  and  the  whole  police  are 
at  his  service.  Government  refuses  nothing  to  a  man  high  in 
favor.  If  Joseph  saw  me  going  to  Mile,  de  Vaudre/s  apart- 
ments at  this  hour,  the  whole  house  would  hear  of  it.  Ah — 
T  am  alone  in  the  world,  alone  with  all  against  me,  a  prisoner 
in  my  own  house! 


SCENE  EIGHTH. 
THE  DDCHESSE  DE.  MONTSOREL  AND  MLLE.  DE  VAUDEEY. 

THE  DUCHESS 
I  see  that  you  find  it  as  impossible  to  sleep  as  I  do. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDRET 

Louise,  my  child,  I  only  rose  to  rid  you  of  a  dream,  the 
awakening  from  which  will  be  deplorable.  I  consider  it  my 
duty  to  distract  you  from  your  insane  fancies.  The  more  I 
think  of  what  you  told  me  the  more  is  my  sympathy  aroused. 
But  I  am  compelled  to  tell  you  the  truth,  cruel  as  it  is ;  beyond 
doubt  the  duke  has  placed  Fernand  in  some  compromising  situ- 
ation, so  as  to  make  it  impossible  for  him  to  retrieve  his  posi- 
tion in  the  world  to  which  you  belong.  The  young  man  you 
saw  cannot  be  your  son. 


18  VAUTRIN 

THE  DUCHESS 

Ah,  you  never  knew  Fernand  !  but  I  knew  him,  and  in  what- 
ever place  he  is,  his  life  has  an  influence  on  mine.  I  have  seen 
him  a  thousand  times — 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDEEY 

In  your  dreams ! 

THE  DUCHESS 

Fernand  has  the  blood  of  the  Montsorels  and  the  Vaudreys 
in  his  veins.  The  place  to  which  he  was  born  he  is  able  to  take ; 
everything  gives  way  before  him  wherever  he  appears.  If  he 
became  a  soldier,  he  is  to-day  a  colonel.  My  son  is  proud,  he 
is  handsome,  people  like  him !  I  am  sure  he  is  beloved.  Do 
not  contradict  me,  dear  aunt ;  Fernand  still  lives ;  if  not,  then 
the  duke  has  broken  faith,  and  I  know  he  values  too  highly  the 
virtues  of  his  race  to  disgrace  them. 

MLLE.  DE  YAUDEET 

But  are  not  honor  and  a  husband's  vengeance  dearer  to  him 
than  his  faith  as  a  gentleman? 

THE  DUCHESS 
Ah!  You  make  me  shudder. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 

You  know  very  well,  Louise,  that  pride  of  race  is  hereditary 
with  the  Montsorels,  as  it  is  with  the  Mortemarts. 

THE  DUCHESS 

I  know  it  too  well !  The  doubt  cast  upon  his  child's  legiti- 
macy has  almost  crazed  him. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 

You  are  wrong  there.  The  duke  has  a  warm  heart,  and  a 
cool  head ;  in  all  matters  that  concern  the  sentiments  on  which 


VAUTRIN  19 

they  live,  men  of  that  temper  act  promptly  in  carrying  out 
their  ideas. 

THE  DUCHESS 

But,  dear  aunt,  do  you  know  at  what  price  he  has  granted 
me  the  life  of  Fernand  ?  Haven't  I  paid  dearly  for  the  assur- 
ance that  his  days  were  not  to  be  shortened?  If  I  had  per- 
sisted in  maintaining  my  innocence  I  should  have  brought 
certain  death  upon  him;  I  have  sacrificed  my  good  name  to 
save  my  son.  Any  mother  would  have  done  as  much.  You 
were  taking  care  of  my  property  here ;  I  was  alone  in  a  foreign 
land,  and  was  the  prey  of  ill-health,  fever,  and  with  none  to 
counsel  me,  and  I  lost  my  head;  for,  since  that  time  it  has 
constantly  occurred  to  me  that  the  duke  would  never  have 
carried  out  his  threats.  In  making  the  sacrifice  I  did,  I  knew 
that  Fernand  would  be  poor  and  destitute,  without  a  name, 
and  dwelling  in  an  unknown  land ;  but  I  knew  also  that  his 
life  would  be  safe,  and  that  some  day  I  should  recover  him, 
even  if  I  had  to  search  the  whole  world  over !  I  felt  so  cheer- 
ful as  I  came  in  that  I  forgot  to  give  you  the  certificate  of 
Fernandas  birth,  which  the  Spanish  ambassador's  wife  has  at 
last  obtained  for  me;  carry  it  about  with  you  until  you  can 
place  it  in  the  hands  of  your  confessor. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDEEY 

The  duke  must  certainly  have  learnt  the  measures  you 
have  taken  in  this  matter,  and  woe  be  to  your  son!     Since 
his  return  he  has  been  very  busy,  and  is  still  busy  about 
something. 
,  THE  DUCHESS 

If  I  shake  off  the  disgrace  with  which  he  has  tried  to  cover 
me,  if  I  give  up  shedding  tears  in  silence,  be  assured  that 
nothing  can  bend  me  from  my  purpose.  I  am  no  longer  in 
Spain  or  England,  at  the  mercy  of  a  diplomat  crafty  as  a 
tiger,  who  during  the  whole  time  of  our  emigration  was  read- 
ing the  thoughts  of  the  heart's  inmost  recesses,  and  with  invisi- 
ble spies  surrounding  my  life  as  by  a  network  of  steel ;  turning 


20  VAUTRIN 

my  servants  into  jailers,  and  keeping  me  prisoner  in  the 
most  horrible  of  prisons,  an  open  house !  I  am  in  France,  I 
have  found  you  once  more,  I  hold  my  place  at  court,  I  can 
speak  my  mind  there;  I  shall  learn  what  has  hecome  of  the 
Vicomte  de  Langeac,  I  shall  prove  that  since  the  Tenth  of 
August1  we  have  never  met,  I  shall  inform  the  king  of  the 
crime  committed  by  a  father  against  a  son  who  is  the  heir  of 
two  noble  houses.  I  am  a  woman,  I  am  Duchesse  de  Mont- 
sorel,  I  am  a  mother !  "We  are  rich,  we  have  a  virtuous  priest 
for  an  adviser;  right  is  on  our  side,  and  if  I  have  demanded 
the  certificate  of  my  son's  birth — 


SCENE  NINTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  AND  THE  Duo  DE  MONTSOREL   (who 
enters  as  the  duchess  pronounces  the  last  sentence). 

THE  DUKE 
It  is  only  for  the  purpose  of  handing  it  to  me. 

THE  DUCHESS 

Since  when  have  you  ventured  to  enter  my  apartment  with- 
out previously  sending  me  word  and  asking  my  leave? 

THE  DUKE 

Since  you  broke  the  agreement  we  made.  You  swore  to 
take  no  steps  to  find  this — your  son.  This  was  the  sole  condi- 
tion on  which  I  promised  to  let  him  live. 

THE  DUCHESS 

And  is  it  not  much  more  honorable  to  violate  such  an  oath, 
than  to  remain  faithful  to  all  others? 

i  A  noteworthy  date  in  French  history,  .A  ugust  10,  1792 ;  the  day  of  the  storming 
of  the  Tuileries.-J.  W.  M. 


VAUTRIN  21 

THE  DUKE 

We  are  henceforth  both  of  us  released  from  our  engage- 
ments. 

THE  DUCHESS 
Have  you,  up  to  the  present  day,  respected  yours? 

THE  DUKE 
I  have,  madame. 

THE  DUCHESS 
Listen  to  him,  aunt,  and  bear  witness  to  this  declaration. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDEEY 

But  has  it  never  occurred  to  you,  my  dear  sir,  that  Louise 
is  innocent? 

THE  DUKE 

Of  course  you  think  so,  Mile,  de  Vaudrey.  And  what  would 
not  I  give  to  share  your  opinion !  The  duchess  has  had  twenty 
years  in  which  to  prove  to  me  her  innocence. 

THE  DUCHESS 

For  twenty  years  you  have  wrung  my  heart  without  pity 
and  without  intermission. 

THE  DUKE 

Madame,  unless  you  hand  me  this  certificate,  your  Fernand 
will  have  serious  cause  for  alarm.  As  soon  as  you  returned 
to  France  you  secured  the  document,  and  are  trying  to  employ 
it  as  a  weapon  against  me.  You  desire  to  obtain  for  your  son 
a  fortune  and  a  name  which  do  not  belong  to  him ;  to  secure 
his  admission  into  a  family,  whose  race  has  up  to  my  time 
been  kept  pure  by  wives  of  stainless  reputation,  a  family 
which  has  never  formed  a  single  mesalliance — 

THE  DUCHESS 
And  which  will  be  worthily  represented  by  your  son  Albert. 


22  VAUTKIN 

THE  DUKE 

Be  careful  what  you  say,  for  you  waken  in  me  terrible 
memories.  And  your  last  word  shows  me  that  you  will  not 
shrink  from  causing  a  scandal  that  will  overwhelm  all  of  us 
with  shame.  Shall  we  air  in  the  public  courts  past  occur- 
rences which  will  show  that  I  am  not  free  from  reproach, 
while  you  are  infamous?  (He  turns  to  Mile,  de  Vaudrey) 
She  cannot  have  told  you  everything,  dear  aunt?  She  was 
in  love  with  Viscount  Langeac ;  I  knew  it,  and  respected  her 
love ;  I  was  so  young !  The  viscount  came  to  me ;  being  with- 
out hope  of  inheriting  a  fortune,  and  the  last  representative 
of  his  house,  he  unselfishly  offered  to  give  up  Louise  de 
Vaudrey.  I  trusted  in  their  mutual  generosity,  and  accepted 
her  as  a  pure  woman  from  his  hands.  Ah!  I  would  have 
given  my  life  for  her,  and  I  have  proved  it!  The  wretched 
man  performed  prodigies  of  valor  on  the  Tenth  of  August,  and 
called  down  upon  himself  the  rage  of  the  mob;  I  put  him 
under  the  protection  of  some  of  my  people;  he  was,  however, 
discovered  and  taken  to  the  Abbaye.  As  soon  as  I  learned  his 
predicament,  I  gave  into  the  hands  of  a  certain  Boulard  all 
the  money  I  had  collected  for  our  flight !  I  induced  Boulard 
to  join  the  Septembrists  in  order  to  save  the  viscount  from 
death;  I  procured  his  escape!  (To  the  duchess)  He  paid 
me  back  well,  did  he  not  ?  I  was  young,  madly  in  love,  impetu- 
ous, yet  I  never  crushed  the  boy !  You  have  to-day  made  me 
the  same  requital  for  my  pity,  as  your  lover  made  for  my 
trust  in  him.  Well — things  remain  just  as  they  were  twenty 
years  ago  excepting  that  the  time  for  pity  is  past.  And  I  will 
repeat  what  I  said  to  you  then :  Forget  your  son,  and  he  shall 
live. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 

And  shall  her  sufferings  during  those  twenty  years  count 
for  nothing? 

THE  DUKE 
A  great  crime  calls  for  a  great  atonement. 


VAUTRIN  23 

THE  DUCHESS 

Ah — if  you  take  my  grief  for  a  sign  of  remorse,  I  will 
again  protest  to  you,  I  am  innocent !  No !  Langeac  never 
betrayed  your  confidence;  it  was  not  for  his  king  alone  he 
went  to  his  death,  and  from  the  fatal  day  on  which  he  bade 
me  farewell  and  surrendered  me  to  you,  I  have  never  seen 
him  again. 

THE  DUKE 

You  purchased  the  life  of  your  son  by  making  an  exactly 
contrary  declaration. 

THE  DUCHESS 

Can  a  compact  dictated  by  terror  be  looked  upon  as  an 
avowal  of  guilt? 

THE  DUKE 
Do  you  intend  to  give  that  certificate  of  birth? 

THE  DUCHESS 
It  is  no  longer  in  my  possession. 

THE  DUKE 
I  will  no  longer  answer  then  for  your  son's  safety. 

THE  DUCHESS 
Have  you  weighed  well  the  consequences  of  this  threat? 

THE  DUKE 
You  ought  to  know  me  by  this  time. 

THE  DUCHESS 

The  trouble  is  that  you  do  not  know  me.  You  will  no 
longer  answer  for  my  son's  safety?  Indeed — but  you  had 
better  look  after  that  of  your  own  son.  Albert  is  a  guarantee 
for  the  life  of  Fernand.  If  you  keep  watch  on  my  proceed- 
ings, I  shall  set  a  watch  on  yours ;  if  you  -rely  upon  the  police 


24  VATJTRIN 

of  the  realm,  I  have  resources  of  my  own,  and  the  assistance 
of  God.  If  you  deal  a  blow  at  Fernand,  beware  of  what  may 
happen  to  Albert.  A  blow  for  a  blow ! — That  is  final. 

THE  DUKE 

You  are  in  your  own  house,  madame.  I  forgot  myself. 
Pray  pardon  me.  I  was  wrong. 

THE  DUCHESS 

You  are  more  a  gentleman  than  your  son;  when  he  flies 
into  a  rage  he  begs  no  one's  pardon,  not  he ! 

THE  DUKE  (aside) 

Has  her  resignation  up  to  this  time  been  nothing  but  a 
pretence?  Has  she  been  waiting  for  the  present  opportunity 
to  speak?  Women  who  are  guided  by  the  advice  of  bigots 
travel  underground,  like  volcanic  fires,  and  only  reveal  them- 
selves when  they  break  out.  She  knows  my  secret,  I  have 
lost  sight  of  her  son,  and  my  defeat  is  imminent.  (Exit.) 


SCENE  TENTH. 
MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY  AND  THE  DUCHESS 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 

Louise,  you  love  the  child  you  have  never  seen,  and  hate 
him  who  is  before  your  eyes.  Ah!  you  must  tell  the  reason 
of  your  hatred  for  Albert,  if  you  would  retain  my  esteem  and 
my  affection. 

THE  DUCHESS 

Not  a  word  on  that  subject. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 

The  calm  way  in  which  your  husband  remarks  your  aver- 
sion for  your  son  is  astonishing. 


VAUTKIN  25 

THE  DUCHESS 
He  is  accustomed  to  it. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDRET 

Yet  you  could  never  show  yourself  a  bad  mother,  could 
you? 

THE  DUCHESS 

A  bad  mother?  No.  (She  reflects.)  I  cannot  make  up 
my  mind  to  forfeit  your  affection.  (She  draws  her  aunt  to 
her  side.)  Albert  is  not  my  son. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 

Can  a  stranger  have  usurped  the  place,  the  name,  the  title, 
the  property  of  the  real  child? 

THE  DUCHESS 

No,  not  a  stranger,  but  his  son.  After  the  fatal  night  on 
which  Fernand  was  carried  off  from  me,  an  eternal  separation 
between  the  duke  and  myself  took  place.  The  wife  in  me  was 
as  cruelly  outraged  as  the  mother.  But  still  I  purchased 
from  him  peace  of  mind." 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 
I  do  not  understand  your  meaning. 

THE  DUCHESS 

I  allowed  the  duke  to  present  this  Albert,  child  of  a  Span- 
ish courtesan,  as  if  he  were  mine.  The  duke  desired  an  heir. 
Amid  the  confusion  wrought  in  Spain  by  the  French  Revolu- 
tion the  trick  escaped  notice.  Are  you  surprised  that  my 
blood  boils  at  the  sight  of  this  strange  woman's  child  occupy- 
ing the  place  of  the  lawful  heir  ? 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 
Now  I  can  deeply  sympathize  with  your  hopes;  ah!  how 


26  VAUTRIN 

glad  I  should  be  if  you  were  right  in  your  suspicions  and  this 
young  man  were  indeed  your  son.  But  what  is  the  matter 
with  you  ? 

THE  DUCHESS 

He  is,  I  fear,  ruined;  for  I  have  brought  him  under  the 
notice  of  his  father,  who  will —  But  stay,  something  must 
be  done !  I  must  find  out  where  he  lives,  and  warn  him  not 
to  come  here  to-morrow  morning. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 
Leave  the  house  at  this  hour !    Louise,  you  are  mad ! 

THE  DUCHESS 
Come,  we  must  save  him  at  any  price. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 
What  do  you  propose  doing? 

THE  DUCHESS 

Neither  of  us  can  leave  the  house  to-morrow  without  being 
noticed.  We  must  forestall  the  duke  by  bribing  my  chamber- 
maid. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 
Louise,  would  you  resort  to  such  means  as  this  ? 

THE  DUCHESS 

If  Raoul  is  the  son  disclaimed  by  his  father,  the  child  over 
whom  I  have  mourned  for  the  last  twenty  years,  I  must  show 
them  what  a  wife,  a  mother,  who  has  been  wrongly  accused, 
can  do ! 

Curtain  to  the  First  Act. 


VAUTRIN  27 

ACT  II. 

SCENE  FIRST. 
(Scene  the  same  as  in  preceding  act.) 


THE  Due  DE  MONTSOREL  AND  JOSEPH. 

JOSEPH  (who  is  just  finishing  tidying  the  room,  aside) 

So  late  to  bed,  so  early  to  rise,  and  already  in  madame's 
apartment.  Something  is  up.  Can  that  devil  of  a  Jacques 
have  been  right  ? 

THE  DUKE 

Joseph,  I  am  not  at  home  excepting  to  one  person.  If  he 
comes,  you  will  show  him  up.  I  refer  to  Monsieur  de  Saint- 
Charles.  Find  out  whether  your  mistress  will  see  me.  (Exit 
Joseph.)  The  awakening  of  a  maternal  instinct,  which  I 
thought  had  been  utterly  extinguished  in  her  heart,  amazes  ine 
beyond  measure.  The  secret  struggle  in  which  she  is  engaged 
must  at  once  be  put  a  stop  to.  So  long  as  Louise  was  resigned 
our  life  was  not  intolerable ;  but  disputes  like  this  would  ren- 
der it  extremely  disagreeable.  I  was  able  to  control  my  wife  so 
long  as  we  were  abroad,  but  in  this  country  my  onl-y  power 
over  her  lies  in  skillful  handling,  and  a  display  of  authority. 
I  shall  tell  everything  to  the  king.  I  shall  submit  myself  to 
his  dictation,  and  Madame  de  Montsorel  must  be  compelled 
to  submit.  I  must  however  bide  my  time.  Tne  detective, 
whom  I  am  to  employ,  if  he  is  clever,  will  sooa  find  out  the 
cause  of  this  revolt ;  I  shall  see  whether  the  duchess  is  merely 
deceived  by  a  resemblance,  or  whether  she  has  seen  her  son. 
For  myself  I  must  confess  to  having  lost  sight  of  him  since 
my  agents  reported  his  disappearance  twelve  years  ago.  fr  wts 


28  VAUTRIN 

very  much  excited  last  night.    I  must  be  more  discreet.    If  I 
keep  quiet  she  will  be  put  off  her  guard  and  reveal  her  secrets. 

JOSEPH  (re-entering  the  room) 
Her  grace  the  duchess  has  not  yet  rung  for  her  maid. 

THE  DUKE 
Very  well. 


SCENE  SECOND. 
THE  PRECEDING  AND  FELICITE. 

(To  explain  his  presence  in  his  wife's  room,  the  dulce  looks 

over  articles  lying  on  the  table,  and  discovers 

a  letter  in  a  book.) 

THE  DUKE  (reading) 

"To  Mile.  Inez  de  Christoval."  (Aside)  Why  should 
my  wife  have  concealed  a  letter  of  such  slight  importance? 
She  no  doubt  wrote  it  after  our  quarrel.  Is  it  concerning 
Raoul  ?  This  letter  must  not  go  to  the  Christoval  house. 

FELICITE  (looking  for  the  letter  in  the  book) 
Now,  where  is  that  letter  of  madame's  ?    Can  she  have  for- 
gotten it? 

THE  DUKE 

Aren't  you  looking  for  a  letter  ? 

FELICITE 
Yes,  your  grace. 

THE  DUKE 
Isn't  this  it? 

FELICIA 
The  very  one,  your  grace. 


VAUTRIN  29 

THE  DUKE 

It  is  astonishing  that  you  should  leave  the  very  hour  your 
mistress  must  need  your  services ;  she  is  getting  up. 

FELICITE 

Her  grace  the  duchess  has  Therese ;  and  besides  I  am  going 
out  by  her  orders. 

THE  DUKE 
Very  good.    I  did  not  wish  to  interfere  with  you. 


SCENE  THIRD. 

THE  PRECEDING,  AND  BLONDET,  ALIAS  THE  CHEVALIER  DE 
SAINT-CHARLES. 

(Joseph  and  Saint-Charles  walk  together  from   tke  centre 
door,  and  eye  each  other  attentively.) 

JOSEPH  (aside) 

The  look  of  that  man  is  very  distasteful  to  me.  (To  the 
duke)  The  Chevalier  de  Saint-Charles.  (The  duke  signs  to 
Saint-Charles  to  approach,  and  examines  his  appearance.) 

SAINT-CHARLES  (giving  him  a  letter,  aside) 
Does  he  know  my  antecedents,  or  will  he  simply  recognize 
me  as  Saint-Charles? 

THE  DUKE 
My  dear  sir — 

SAINT-CHARLES 
I  am  to  be  merely  Saint-Charles. 

THE  DUKE 

You  are  recommended  to  me  as  a  man  whose  ability,  if  it 
had  fair  scope,  would  be  called  genius. 


30  VAUTRIN 

SAINT-CHARLES 

If  his  grace  the  duke  will  give  me  an  opportunity,  I  will 
prove  myself  worthy  of  that  nattering  opinion. 

THE  DUKE 
You  shall  have  one  at  once. 

SAINT-CHARLES 
What  are  your  commands  ? 

THE  DUKE 

You  see  that  maid.  She  is  going  to  leave  the  house.  I  do 
not  wish  to  hinder  her  doing  so;  yet  she  must  not  cross  the 
threshold,  until  she  receives  a  fresh  order.  (Calls  her) 
Felicite ! 

FELICITE 

What  is  it,  your  grace?  (The  dulce  gives  her  the  letter. 
Exit  Felicite.) 

SAINT-CHARLES  (to  Joseph) 

I  recognize  you,  I  know  all  about  you :  See  that  this  maid 
remains  in  the  house  with  the  letter,  and  I  will  not  recognize 
you,  and  will  know  nothing  of  you,  and  will  let  you  stay  here 
BO  long  as  you  behave  yourself. 

JOSEPH  (aside) 

This  fellow  on  one  side,  and  Jacques  Collin  on  the  other ! 
Well,  I  must  try  to  serve  them  both  honestly.  (Exit  Joseph, 
in  pursuit  of  Felicite.) 


SCENE  FOURTH. 
THE  DUKE  AND  SAINT-CHARLES. 

SAINT-CHARLES 

Your  grace's  commands  are  obeyed.    Do  you  wish  to  know 
the  contents  of  the  letter  ? 


VAUTRIN  31 

THE  DUKE 

Why,  my  dear  sir,  the  power  you  seem  to  exercise  is  some- 
thing terrible  and  wonderful. 

SAINT-CHARLES 

You  gave  me  absolute  authority  in  the  matter,  and  I  used  it 
well. 

THE  DUKE 
And  what  if  you  had  abused  it? 

SAINT-CHARLES 

That  would  have  been  impossible,  for  such  a  course  would 
ruin  me. 

THE  DUKE 

How  is  it  that  men  endowed  with  such  faculties  are  found 
employing  them  in  so  lowly  a  sphere? 

SAINT-CHARLES 

Everything  is  against  our  rising  above  it;  we  protect  our 
protectors,  we  learn  too  many  honorable  secrets,  and  are  kept 
in  ignorance  of  too  many  shameful  ones  to  be  liked  by  people, 
and  render  such  important  services  to  others  that  they  can 
only  shake  off  the  obligation  by  speaking  ill  of  us.  People 
think  that  things  are  only  words  with  us;  refinement  is  thus 
mere  silliness,  honor  a  sham,  and  acts  of  treachery  mere 
diplomacy.  We  are  the  confidants  of  many  who  yet  leave  us 
much  to  guess  at.  Our  programme  consists  in  thinking  and 
acting,  finding  out  the  past  from  the  present,  ordering  and 
arranging  the  future  in  the  pettiest  details,  as  I  am  about  to 
do — and,  in  short,  in  doing  a  hundred  things  that  might 
strike  dismay  to  a  man  of  no  mean  ability.  When  once  our 
end  is  gained,  words  become  things  once  more,  and  people 
begin  to  suspect  that  possibly  we  are  infamous  scoundrels. 


32  VAUTRIN 

THE  DUKE 

There  may  be  some  justice  in  all  this,  but  I  do  not  suppose 
you  expect  to  change  the  opinion  of  the  world,  or  even  mine  ? 

SAINT-CHARLES 

I  should  be  a  great  fool  if  I  did.  I  don't  care  about  chang- 
ing another  man's  opinion;  what  I  do  want  to  change  is  my 
own  position. 

THE  DUKE 
According  to  you  that  would  be  very  easy,  wouldn't  it? 

SAINT-CHARLES 

Why  not,  your  grace  ?  Let  some  one  set  me  to  play  the  spy 
over  cabinets,  instead  of  raking  up  the  secrets  of  private  fami- 
lies. Instead  of  dogging  the  footsteps  of  shady  characters, 
let  them  put  me  in  charge  of  the  craftiest  diplomats.  Instead 
of  pandering  to  the  vilest  passions,  let  me  serve  the  govern- 
ment. I  should  be  delighted  to  play  a  modest  part  in  a  great 
movement.  And  what  a  devoted  servant  your  grace  would 
have  in  me ! 

THE  DUKE 

I  am  really  sorry  to  employ  such  great  talents  as  yours  in 
so  petty  an  affair,  my  friend,  but  it  will  give  me  an  opportunity 
of  testing,  and  then  we'll  see. 

SAINT-CHARLES  (aside) 
Ah — We  shall  see  ?    That  means,  all  has  already  been  seen. 

THE  DUKE 
I  wish  to  see  my  son  married — 

SAINT-CHARLES 

To  Mile.  Inez  de  Christoval,  Princesse  d'Arjos — a  good 
match!  Her  father  made  the  mistake  of  entering  Joseph 
Bonaparte's  service,  and  was  banished  by  King  Ferdinand. 
He  probably  took  part  in  the  Mexican  revolution. 


VAUTRIN  33 

THE  DUKE 

Madame  de  Christoval  and  her  daughter  have  made  the 
acquaintance  of  a  certain  adventurer,  named — 

SAINT-CHARLES 
Eaoul  de  Frescas. 

THE  DUKE 
Is  there  nothing  I  can  tell  you  that  you  do  not  know? 

SAINT-CHARLES 
If  your  grace  desires  it,  I  will  know  nothing. 

THE  DUKE 

On  the  contrary,  I  should  like  you  to  speak  out,  so  that  I 
may  know  what  secrets  you  will  permit  us  to  keep. 

SAINT-CHARLES 

Let  us  make  one  stipulation;  whenever  my  frankness  dis- 
pleases your  grace,  call  me  chevalier,  and  I  will  sink  once  more 
into  my  humble  role  of  paid  detective. 

THE  DUKE 
Go  on,  my  friend.     (Aside)  These  people  are  very  amusing. 

SAINT-CHARLES 

M.  de  Frescas  will  not  be  an  adventurer  so  long  as  he  lives 
in  the  style  of  a  man  who  has  an  income  of  a  hundred  thou- 
sand francs. 

THE  DUKE 

Whoever  he  is  you  must  pierce  through  the  mystery  which 
surrounds  him. 

SAINT-CHARLES 

Your  grace  requires  a  very  difficult  thing.  We  are  obliged 
to  use  circumspection  in  dealing  with  foreigners.  They  are 
our  masters;  they  have  turned  Paris  upside  down. 


34  VAUTRIN 

THE  DUKE 
That's  the  trouble! 

SAINT-CHARLES 
Does  your  grace  belong  to  the  opposition? 

THE  DUKE 

I  should  like  to  have  brought  back  the  king  without  his  fol- 
lowing— that  is  my  position. 

SAINT-CHARLES 

The  departure  of  the  king  resulted  from  the  disorganiza- 
tion of  the  magnificent  Asiatic  police  created  by  Bonaparte. 
An  effort  is  being  made  nowadays  to  form  a  police  of  respect- 
able people,  a  procedure  which  disbands  the  old  police. 
Henmaed  in  by  the  military  police  of  the  invasion,  we  dare  not 
arrest  any  one,  for  fear  we  might  lay  hands  on  some  prince  on 
his  way  to  keep  an  assignation,  or  some  margrave  who  had 
dined  too  well.  But  for  your  grace  a  man  will  attempt  the 
impossible.  Has  this  young  man  any  vices  ?  Does  he  play  ? 

THE  DUKE 
Yes,  In  a  social  way. 

SAINT-CHARLES 
Does  he  cheat? 

THE  DUKE 
Chevalier ! 

SAINT-CHARLES 
This  young  man  must  be  very  rich. 

THE  DUKE 
Inquire  for  yourself. 

SAINT-CHARLES 
I  ask  pardon  of  your  grace;  but  people  without  passions 


VAUTRTN  35 

«flimot  know  much.  Would  you  have  the  goodness  to  tell  me 
whether  this  young  man  is  sincerely  attached  to  Mile,  de  Chris- 
toval ? 

THE  DUKE 

What!  that  princess!  that  heiress!  You  alarm  me,  my 
friend. 

SAINT-CHAKLES 

Has  not  your  grace  told  me  that  he  is  a  young  man  ?  Now, 
pretended  love  is  more  perfect  than  genuine  love ;  that  is  the 
reason  why  so  many  women  are  deceived !  Undoubtedly  he 
has  thrown  over  many  mistresses,  and  heart-free,  tongue-free, 
you  know — 

THE  DUKE 

Take  care !  Your  mission  is  peculiar,  and  you  had  best  not 
meddle  with  the  women ;  an  indiscretion  on  your  part  may  for- 
feit my  good  will,  for  all  that  relates  to  M.  Frescas  must  go  no 
further  than  you  and  myself.  I  demand  absolute  secrecy,  both 
from  those  you  employ,  and  those  who  employ  you.  In  fact, 
you  will  be  a  ruined  man,  if  Madame  de  Montsorel  has  any 
suspicion  of  your  designs. 

SAINT-CHARLES 

Is  Madame  de  Montsorel  then  interested  in  this  young  man  ? 
I  must  keep  an  eye  on  her,  for  this  girl  is  her  chambermaid. 

THE  DUKE 

Chevalier  de  Saint-Charles,  to  order  you  to  do  this  would 
be  unworthy  of  me,  and  to  ask  for  such  an  order  is  quite  un- 
worthy of  you. 

SAINT-CHARLES 

Your  grace  and  I  perfectly  understand  each  other.  But 
what  is  to  be  the  main  object  of  my  investigations  ? 

THE  DUKE 
You  must  find  out  whether  Eaoul  de  Frescas  is  the  real 


36  VAUTRIN 

name  of  this  young  man ;  find  out  where  he  was  born,  ransack 
his  whole  life,  and  consider  all  you  learn  about  him  a  secret 
of  state. 

SAINT-CHARLES 

You  must  wait  until  to-morrow  for  this  information,  my 
lord. 

THE  DUKE 
That  is  a  short  time. 

SAINT-CHARLES 
But  it  involves  a  good  deal  of  money. 

THE  DUKE 

Do  not  suppose  that  I  wish  to  hear  of  evil  things ;  it  is  the 
method  of  you  people  to  pander  to  depraved  passions.  Instead 
of  showing  them  up,  you  prefer  to  invent  rather  than  to  reveal 
occurrences.  I  should  be  delighted  to  learn  that  this  young 
man  has  a  family — (The  marquis  enters,  sees  his  father 
engaged,  and  turns  to  go  out;  the  duke  asks  him  to  remain.) 


SCENE  FIFTH. 
THE  PRECEDING  AND  THE  MARQUIS  DE  MONTSOREL. 

THE  DUKE  (continuing) 

If  M.  de  Frescas  is  a  gentleman,  and  the  Princesse  d'Arjoa 
decidedly  prefers  him  to  my  son,  the  marquis  must  withdraw 
his  suit. 

THE  MARQUIS 
But,  father,  I  am  in  love  with  Inez. 

THE  DUKE  (to  Saint-Charles) 
You  may  go,  sir. 


VAUTRIN  37 

SAINT-CHARLES   (aside) 

He  takes  no  interest  in  the  proposed  marriage  of  his  son. 
He  is  incapable  of  feeling  jealous  of  his  wife.  There  is  some- 
thing very  serious  in  these  circumstances ;  I  am  either  a  ruined 
man  or  my  fortune  is  made.  (Exit.) 


SCENE  SIXTH. 
THE  DUKE  AND  THE  MARQUIS. 

THE  DUKE 

To  marry  a  woman  who  does  not  love  you  is  a  mistake  which 
I  shall  never  allow  you  to  commit,  Albert. 

THE  MARQUIS 

But  there  is  nothing  that  indicates  that  Inez  will  reject  me ; 
and,  in  any  case,  once  she  is  my  wife,  it  will  be  my  object  to 
win  her  love,  and  I  believe,  without  vanity,  that  I  shall  suc- 
ceed. 

THE  DUKE 

Allow  me  to  tell  you,  my  son,  that  your  barrack-room  ideas 
are  quite  out  of  place  here. 

THE  MARQUIS 

On  any  other  subject  your  words  would  be  law  to  me ;  but 
every  era  has  a  different  art  of  love — I  beg  of  you  to  hasten 
my  marriage.  Inez  has  all  the  pliability  of  .an  only  daughter, 
and  the  readiness  with  which  she  accepts  the  advances  of  a 
mere  adventurer  ought  to  rouse  your  anxiety.  Eeally,  the 
coldness  with  which  you  receive  me  this  morning  amazes  me. 
Putting  aside  my  love  for  Inez,  could  I  do  better?  I  shall 
be,  like  you,  a  Spanish  grandee,  and,  more  than  that,  a  prince. 
Would  that  annoy  you,  father  ? 


38  VAUTR1N 

THE  DUKE  (aside) 

The  blood  of  his  mother  shows  itself  all  the  time!  Oh! 
Louise  has  known  well  my  tender  spot!  (Aloud)  Keeollect, 
sir,  that  there  is  no  rank  higher  than  the  glorious  title,  Due 
de  Montsorel. 

THE  MARQUIS 
How  have  I  offended  you  ? 

THE  DUKE 

Enough !  You  forget  that  I  arranged  this  marriage  after 
my  residence  in  Spain.  You  are  moreover  aware  that  Inez 
cannot  be  married  without  her  father's  consent.  Mexico  has 
recently  declared  its  independence,  and  the  occurrence  of  this 
revolution  explains  the  delay  of  his  answer. 

THE  MARQUIS 

But,  my  dear  father,  your  plans  are  in  danger  of  being 
defeated.  You  surely  did  not  see  what  happened  yesterday 
at  the  Spanish  ambassador's?  My  mother  took  particular 
notice  there  of  this  Eaoul  de  Frescas,  and  Inez  was  immensely 
pleased  with  him.  Do  you  know  that  I  have  long  felt,  and 
now  at  last  admit  to  myself,  that  my  mother  hates  me  ?  And 
that  I  myself  feel,  what  I  would  only  say  to  you  father,  whom 
I  love,  that  I  have  little  love  for  her  ? 

THE  DUKE  (aside) 

I  am  reaping  all  that  I  have  sown;  hate  as  well  as  love  is 
instinctively  divined.  (To  the  marquis)  My  son,  you  should 
not  judge,  for  yo.u  can  never  understand  your  mother.  She 
has  seen  my  blind  affection  for  you,  and  she  wishes  to  correct 
it  by  severity.  Do  not  let  me  hear  any  more  such  remarks 
from  you,  and  let  us  drop  the  subject !  You  are  on  duty  at 
the  palace  to-day ;  repair  thither  at  once :  I  will  obtain  leave 
for  you  this  evening,  when  you  can  go  to  the  ball  and  rejoiw 
the  Princesse  d'Arjos. 


VAUTRIN  39 

THE  MARQUIS 

Before  leaving,  I  should  like  to  see  my  mother,  and  beg  for 
her  kind  offices  in  my  favor,  with  Inez,  who  calls  upon  her  this 
morning. 

THE  DUKE 

Ask  whether  she  is  to  be  seen,  for  I  am  waiting  for  her 
myself.  (Exit  the  marquis.)  Everything  overwhelms  me  at 
the  same  time;  yesterday  the  ambassador  inquired  of  me  the 
place  of  my  son's  death;  last  night,  my  son's  mother  thought 
she  had  found  him  again;  this  morning  the  son  of  Juana 
Mendes  harrows  my  feelings !  The  princess  recognizes  him 
instinctively.  No  law  can  be  broken  without  a  nemesis; 
nature  is  as  pitiless  as  the  world  of  men.  Shall  I  be  strong 
enough,  even  with  the  backing  of  the  king,  to  overcome  this 
complication  of  circumstances  ? 


SCENE  SEVENTH. 

THE  DUKE,  THE  DUCHESS  AND  THE  MARQUIS. 

i 

THE  DUCHESS 

Excuses  ?  Nonsense !  Albert,  I  am  only  too  happy  to  see 
you  here;  it  is  a  pleasant  surprise;  you  are  come  to  kiss  your 
mother  before  going  to  the  palace — that  is  all.  Ah !  if  ever 
a  mother  found  it  in  her  heart  to  doubt  her  son,  this  eager 
affection,  which  I  have  not  been  accustomed  to,  would  dispel 
all  such  fear,  and  I  thank  you  for  it,  Albert.  At  last  we 
understand  each  other. 

THE  MARQUIS 

I  am  glad  to  hear  you  say  that,  mother ;  if  I  have  seemed 
lacking  in  my  duty  to  you,  it  is  not  that  I  forget,  but  that  I 
feared  to  annoy  you. 


40  VAUTRIN 

THE  DUCHESS  (seeing  the  duke) 

What !  your  grace  here  also ! — you  really  seem  to  share  your 
son's  cordiality, — my  rising  this  morning  is  actually  a  fete. 

THE  DUKE 
And  you  will  find  it  so  every  day. 

THE  DUCHESS  (to  the  duke) 

Ah!  I  understand —  (To  the  marquis)  Good-bye!  the 
Wing  is  strict  about  the  punctuality  of  his  red-coated  guards, 
and  I  should  be  sorry  to  cause  you  to  be  reprimanded. 

THE  DUKE 
Why  do  you  send  him  off  ?    Inez  will  soon  be  here. 

THE  DUCHESS 
I  do  not  think  so,  I  have  just  written  to  her. 


SCENE  EIGHTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  JOSEPH. 

JOSEPH   (announcing  a  visitor) 

Their  graces  the  Duchesse  de  Christoval  and  the  Princesse 
d'Arjos. 

THE  DUCHESS  (aside) 
How  excessively  awkward ! 

THE  DUKE  (to  his  son) 
Do  not  go ;  leave  all  to  me.    They  are  trifling  with  us. 


VAUTRIN  41 

SCENE  NINTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL  AND 
THE  PRINCESSE  D'ARJOS. 

THE  DDCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL 

Ah !  madame,  it  is  extremely  kind  of  you  thus  to  anticipate 
my  visit  to  you. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL 

I  come  in  this  way  that  there  may  be  no  formality  between 
us. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL  (to  Inez) 
Have  you  read  my  letter  ? 

INEZ 
One  of  your  maids  has  just  handed  it  to  me. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL  (aside) 
It  is  evident  that  Eaoul  is  also  coming. 

THE  DUKE  (to  the  Duchesse  de  Christoval,  whom  he  leads  to 

a  seat) 

I  hope  we  see  in  this  informal  visit  the  beginning  of  a  fam- 
ily intimacy? 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL 

Pray  do  not  exaggerate  the  importance  of  a  civility,  \rhich 
I  look  upon  as  a  pleasure. 

THE  MARQUIS 

You  are  seriously  afraid,  madame,  I  perceive,  of  encourag- 
ing my  hopes  ?  Did  I  not  suffer  sufficiently  yesterday  ?  The 
princess  did  not  notice  me,  even  by  a  look. 


42  VAUTRIN 

INEZ 

I  didn't  expect  the  pleasure  of  meeting  you  again  so  soon, 
sir.  I  thought  you  were  on  duty ;  I  am  glad  to  have  an  oppor- 
tunity of  explaining  that  I  never  saw  you  till  the  moment  I 
left  the  ball-room,  and  this  lady  (pointing  to  the  Duchesse  de 
Montsorel)  must  be  the  excuse  of  my  inattention. 

THE  MARQUIS 

You  have  two  excuses,  mademoiselle,  and  I  thank  you  for 
mentioning  only  one — my  mother. 

THE  DUKE 

His  reproaches  spring  only  from  his  nxodesty.  mademoiselle. 
Albert  is  under  the  impression  that  M.  de  Frescas  can  give 
him  ground  for  anxiety !  At  his  age  passion  is  a  fairy  that 
makes  trifles  appear  vast.  But  neither  yourself  nor  your 
mother,  mademoiselle,  can  attach  any  serious  importance  to 
the  claims  of  a  young  man,  whose  title  is  problematical  and 
who  is  so  studiously  silent  about  his  family. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL  (to  the  Duchesse  de 

Christoval) 
And  are  you  also  ignorant  of  the  place  where  he  was  born  ? 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL 

I  am  not  intimate  enough  with  him  to  ask  for  such  informa- 
tion. 

THE  DUKE 

There  are  three  of  us  here  who  would  be  well  pleased  to 
have  it.  You  alone,  ladies,  would  be  discreet,  for  discretion  is 
a  virtue  the  possession  of  which  profits  only  those  who  require 
it  in  others. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL 

As  for  me,  I  do  not  believe  that  curiosity  is  always  blame- 
less. 


VAUTRIN  43 

THE  MAEQUIS 

Is  mine  then  ill-timed  ?  And  may  I  not  inquire  of  madame 
whether  the  Frescas  of  Aragon  are  extinct  or  not  ? 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL  (to  the  duke) 

Both  of  us  have  known  at  Madrid  the  old  commander,  who 
was  last  of  his  line.  ' 

THE  DUKE 

He  died,  of  course,  without  issue. 

INEZ 
But  there  exists  a  branch  of  the  family  at  Naples. 

THE  MARQUIS 

Surely  you  are  aware,  mademoiselle,  that  your  cousins,  the 
house  of  Medina-Cceli,  have  succeeded  to  it? 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL 
You  are  right ;  there  are  no  De  Frescas  in  existence. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL 

Well !  well !  If  this  young  man  has  neither  title  nor  fam- 
ily, he  can  be  no  dangerous  rival  to  Albert.  I  do  not  know 
why  you  should  be  interested  in  him. 

THE  DUKE 
But  there  are  a  great  many  ladies  interested  in  him. 

INEZ 
I  begin  to  see  your  meaning — 

THE  MARQUI& 
Indeed ! 


44  VAUTRIN 

INEZ 

Yes,  this  young  man  is  not,  perhaps,  all  he  wishes  to  appear ; 
but  he  is  intelligent,  well  educated,  his  sentiments  are  noble, 
he  shows  us  the  most  chivalric  respect,  he  speaks  ill  of  no 
one;  evidently,  he  is  acting  the  gentleman,  and  exaggerates 
his  role. 

THE  DUKE 

I  believe  he  also  exaggerates  the  amount  of  his  fortune; 
but  it  is  difficult  at  Paris  to  maintain  that  pretension  for  any 
length  of  time. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL  (to  the  DucJiesse  de  Ohris- 

toval) 

I  am  told  that  you  mean  to  give  a  series  of  brilliant  enter- 
tainments ? 

THE  MARQUIS 
Does  M.  de  Frescas  speak  Spanish? 

INEZ 
Just  as  well  as  we  do. 

THE  DUKE 

Say  no  more,  Albert ;  did  you  not  hear  that  M.  de  Frescas 
is  a  highly  accomplished  young  man? 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL 

He  is  really  a  very  agreeable  man,  but  if  your  doubts  were 
well  founded,  I  confess,  my  dear  duke,  I  should  be  very  sorry 
to  receive  any  further  visits  from  him. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL  (to  the  Duchesse  de  Chris- 

toval) 

You  look  as  fresh  to-day  as  you  did  yesterday;  I  really 
admire  the  way  you  stand  the  dissipations  of  society. 


VAUTRIN  45 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHEISTOVAL  (aside  to  Inez) 

My  child,  do  not  mention  M.  de  Frescas  again.    The  subject 
annoys  Madame  de  Montsorel. 

INEZ   (also  aside) 
It  did  not  annoy  her  yesterday. 


SCENE  TENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  JOSEPH  AND  KAOUL  DE  FRESGAS. 

JOSEPH   (to  the  Duchesse  de  Montsorel) 
As  Mile,  de  Vaudrey  is  not  in,  and  M.  de  Frescas  is  here, 
will  your  grace  see  him? 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL 
Is  Eaoul  here? 

THE  DUKE 
So  he  has  already  found  her  out! 

THE  MARQUIS   (to  Ms  father) 
My  mother  is  deceiving  us. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL  (to  Joseph) 
I  am  not  at  home. 

THE  DUKE 

If  you  have  asked  M.  de  Frescas  to  come  why  do  you  hegin 
by  treating  so  great  a  personage  with  discourtesy?  (To 
Joseph,  despite  a  gesture  of  protest  from  the  Duchesse  de 
Montsorel)  Show  him  in!  (To  the  marquis)  Try  to  be 
calm  and  sensible. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL   (aside) 
In  trying  to  help,  I  have  hurt  him,  I  fear. 


46  VAUTRIN 

JOSEPH 
M.  Kaoul  de  Frescas. 

RAOUL  (entering) 

My  eagerness  to  obey  your  commands  will  prove  to  you, 
Madame  la  Duchesse,  how  proud  I  am  of  your  notice,  and  how 
anxious  to  deserve  it. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL 

I  thank  you,  sir,  for  your  promptitude.  (Aside)  But  it 
may  prove  fatal  to  you. 

RAOUL  (bowing  to  the  Duchesse  de  Christoval  and  her  daugh- 
ter, aside) 

How  is  this?  Inez  here?  (Raoul  exchanges  bows  with  the 
duke;  but  the  marquis  takes  up  a  newspaper  from  the  table, 
and  pretends  not  to  see  Raoul.) 

THE  DUKE 

I  must  confess,  M.  de  Frescas,  I  did  not  expect  to  meet  you 
in  the  apartment  of  Madame  de  Montsorel ;  hut  I  am  pleased 
at  the  interest  she  takes  in  you,  for  it  has  procured  me  the 
pleasure  of  meeting  a  young  man  whose  entrance  into  Parisian 
society  has  been  attended  with  such  success  and  brilliancy. 
You  are  one  of  the  rivals  whom  one  is  proud  to  conquer,  but 
to  whom  one  submits  without  displeasure. 

RAOUL 

This  exaggerated  eulogy,  with  which  I  cannot  agree,  would 
be  ironical  unless  it  had  been  pronounced  by  you;  but  I  am 
compelled  to  acknowledge  the  courtesy  with  which  you  desire 
to  set  me  at  my  ease  (looking  at  the  marquis,  who  turns  his 
back  on  him),  in  a  house  where  I  might  well  think  myself 
unwelcome. 

THE  DUKE 
On  the  contrary,  you  have  come  just  at  the  right  moment; 


VAUTRIN  47 

we  "were  just  speaking  of  your  family  and  of  the  aged  Com- 
mander de  Frescas  whom  madame  and  myself  were  once  well 
acquainted  with. 

KAOUL 

I  am  highly  honored  by  the  interest  you  take  in  me;  but 
such  an  honor  is  generally  enjoyed  at  the  cost  of  some  slight 
gossip. 

THE  DUKE 

People  can  only  gossip  about  those  whom  they  know  well. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL 
And  we  would  like  to  have  the  right  of  gossiping  about  you. 

RAOUL 
It  is  my  interest  to  keep  myself  in  your  good  graces. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL 
I  know  one  way  of  doing  so. 

RAOUL 
What  is  that? 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL 
Remain  the  same  mysterious  personage  you  are  at  present 

THE  MARQUIS  (rejoining  them,  newspaper  in  hand) 
Here  is  a  strange  thing,  ladies;  one  of  those  foreigners 
who  claim  to  be  noblemen  has  been  caught  cheating  at  play 
at  the  field  marshal's  house. 

INEZ 

Is  that  the  great  piece  of  news  in  which  you  have  been 
absorbed  ? 

RAOUL 
In  these  times,  everyone  seems  to  be  a  foreigner. 


48  VAUTRIN 

THE  MARQUIS 

It  was  not  altogether  this  piece  of  news  that  set  me  think- 
ing, but  I  was  struck  by  the  incredible  readiness  with  which 
people  receive  at  their  houses  those  about  whose  antecedents 
they  know  positively  nothing. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL  (aside) 
Is  he  to  be  insulted  in  my  house? 

KAOUL 

If  people  distrust  those  whom  they  do  not  know,  aren't 
they  sometimes  likely,  at  very  short  notice,  to  know  rather 
too  much  about  them? 

THE  DUKE 

Albert,  how  can  this  news  of  yours  interest  us?  Do  we 
ever  receive  any  one  without  first  learning  what  his  family  is  ? 

KAOUL 
His  grace  the  duke  knows  my  family. 

THE  DUKE 

It  is  sufficient  for  me  that  you  are  found  at  Madame  de 
Montsorel's  house.  We  know  what  we  owe  to  you  too  well 
to  forget  what  you  owe  to  us.  The  name  De  Frescas  com- 
mands respect,  and  you  represent  it  worthily. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL  (to  Raoul) 

Will  you  immediately  announce  who  you  are,  if  not  for  your 
own  sake,  at  least  out  of  consideration  for  your  friends  ? 

EAOUL 

I  shall  be  extremely  distressed  if  my  presence  here  should 
occasion  the  slightest  discussion;  but  as  certain  hints  are  as 
galling  as  the  most  direct  charges,  I  suggest  that  we  end  this 


VAUTRIN  49 

conversation,  which  is  as  unworthy  of  you,  as  it  is  of  me. 
Her  grace  the  duchess  did  not,  I  am  sure,  invite  me  here 
to  be  cross-examined.  I  recognize  in  no  one  the  right  to  ask 
a  reason  for  the  silence  which  I  have  decided  to  maintain. 

THE  MARQUIS 
And  you  leave  us  the  right  to  interpret  it? 

EAOUL 

If  I  claim  liberty  of  action,  it  is  not  for  the  purpose  of 
refusing  the  same  to  you. 

THE  DUKE  (to  Raoul) 

You  are  a  noble  young  man,  you  show  the  natural  distinc- 
tion which  marks  the  gentleman;  do  not  be  offended  at  the 
curiosity  of  the  world ;  it  is  our  only  safeguard.  Your  sword 
cannot  impose  silence  upon  all  idle  talkers,  and  the  world, 
while  it  treats  becoming  modesty  with  generosity,  has  no  pity 
for  ungrounded  pretensions — 

RAOUL 

Sir! 

0 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE   MONTSOREL    (whispering    anxiously  to 

Raoul) 

Not  a  word  about  your  childhood;  leave  Paris,  and  let  me 
alone  know  where  you  are — hidden !  Your  whole  future 

depends  on  this. 

i 

THE  DUKE 

I  really  wish  to  be  your  friend,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  you 
are  the  rival  of  my  son.  Give  your  confidence  to  a  man  who 
has  that  of  his  king.  How  can  you  be  descended  from  the 
house  of  De  Frescas,  which  is  extinct? 


50  VAUTRIN 

RAOUL   (to  the  duke) 

Your  grace  is  too  powerful  to  fail  of  proteges,  and  I  am  not 
so  weak  as  to  need  a  protector. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL 

Sir,  I  am  sure  you  will  understand  a  mother's  feeling  that 
it  would  be  unwise  for  her  to  receive  many  visits  from  you  at 
the  Christoval  house. 

INEZ  (to  Raoul) 

A  word  would  save  us,  and  you  keep  silence;  I  perceive 
that  there  is  something  dearer  to  you  than  I  am. 

RAOUL 

Inez,  I  could  bear  anything  excepting  these  reproaches. 
(Aside)  0  Vautrin!  why  did  you  impose  absolute  silence 
upon  me  ?  (He  bows  farewell  to  the  ladies.  To  the  Duchesse 
de  Montsorel)  I  leave  my  happiness  in  your  charge. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL 
Do  what  I  order;  I  will  answer  for  the  rest. 

RAOUL  (to  the  marquis) 
I  am  at  your  service,  sir. 

THE  MARQUIS 
Good-bye,  M.  Raoul. 

RAOUL 
De  Frescas,  if  you  please. 

THE  MARQUIS 
De  Frescas,  then !     (Exit  Raoul.) 


VAUTRIN  il 

SCENE  ELEVENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  EXCEPT  KAOUL. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL  (to  the  Duchesse  de 

Christoval) 
You  were  very  severe. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL 

You  may  not  be  aware,  madame,  that  for  the  last  three 
months  this  young  man  has  danced  attendance  on  my  daugh- 
ter wherever  she  went,  and  that  his  admission  into  society  was 
brought  about  a  little  incautiously. 

THE  DUKE  (to  the  Duchesse  de  Christoval) 
He  might  easily  be  taken  for  a  prince  in  disguise. 

THE  MARQUIS 
Is  he  not  rather  a  nobody  disguised  as  a  prince? 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL 

Your  father  will  tell  you  that,  such  disguises  are  difficult 
to  assume. 

INEZ  (to  the  marquis) 

A  nobody  sir?  We  women  can  be  attracted  by  one  who  is 
above  us,  never  by  him  who  is  our  inferior. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL 
What  are  you  talking  about,  Inez? 

INEZ 

It  is  of  no  consequence,  mother !  Either  this  young  man  is 
crazed  or  these  people  are  ungenerous. 

MADAME  DE  CHRISTOVAL  (to  the  Duchesse  de  Montsorel) 
I  can  plainly  see,  madame,  that  any  explanation  is  impos- 


52  VAUTRIN 

sible,  especially  in  the  presence  of  the  duke;  but  my  honor  is 
at  stake,  and  I  shall  expect  you  to  explain. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOEEL 

To-morrow,  then.  (Exit  the  duke  with  the  Duchesse  de 
Christoval  and  her  daughter,  followed  by  the  Duchesse  de 
Montsorel.) 


SCENE  TWELFTH. 
THE  MARQUIS  AND  THE  DUKE. 

THE  MARQUIS 

The  appearance  of  this  adventurer,  father,  seems  to  throw 
both  you  and  my  mother  into  a  state  of  the  most  violent 
excitement ;  it  would  almost  seem  as  if  not  only  was  the  mar- 
riage of  your  son  jeopardized,  but  your  very  existence  men- 
aced. The  duchess  and  her  daughter  went  off  in  high  dudg- 
eon— 

THE  DUKE 

What  could  have  brought  them  here  in  the  very  midst  of 
our  discussion? 

THE  MARQUIS 
And  you  also  are  interested  in  this  fellow  Kaoul  ? 

THE  DUKE 

Are  not  you?  Your  fortune,  your  name,  your  future  and 
your  marriage,  all  that  is  more  to  you  than  life,  is  now  at 
stake ! 

THE  MARQUIS 

If  all  these  things  are  dependent  upon  this  young  man,  I 
will  immediately  demand  satisfaction  from  him. 


VAUTRIN  53 

THE  DUKE 

What !    a  duel  ?    If  you  had  the  wretched  luck  to  kill  him, 
the  success  of  your  suit  would  be  hopeless. 

THE  MAEQUIS 
What  then  is  to  be  done? 

THE  DUKE 
Do  like  the  politicians;  wait! 

THE  MAEQUIS 

If  you  are  in  danger,  father,  do  you  think  I  can  remain 
quiet? 

THE  DUKE 
Leave  this  burden  to  me;  it  would  crush  you. 

THE  MAEQUIS 
Ah !  but  you  will  speak,  father,  you  will  tell  me — 

THE  DUKE 

Nothing !  for  we  should  both  of  us  have  too  much  to  blush 
for. 


'SCENE  THIRTEENTH. 
THE  SAME  PEESONS  AND  VAUTBIN. 

(Vautrin  is  dressed  all  in  black;  at  the  beginning  of  the  scene 
he  puts  on  an  air  of  compunction  and  humility.) 

VAUTEIN- 

Excuse  me,  your  grace,  for  having  forced  my  way  in,  but 
(whispering  so  as  not  to  be  overheard)  we  have  both  of  us  been 


64  VAUTRIN 

victimized  by  an  abuse  of  confidence — allow  me  to  say  a  word 
or  two  to  you  alone. 

THE  DUKE  (with  a  sign  to  his  son  to  leave  them) 
Say  on,  sir. 

VAUTEIN 

In  these  days  success  is  in  the  power  of  those  alone  who 
exert  themselves  to  obtain  office,  and  this  form  of  ambition 
pervades  all  classes.  Every  man  in  France  desires  to  be  a 
colonel,  and  it  is  difficult  to  see  where  the  privates  are  to  come 
from.  As  a  matter  of  fact  society  is  threatened  by  disintegra- 
tion, which  will  simply  result  from  this  universal  desire  for 
high  positions,  accompanied  with  a  general  disgust  for  the 
low  places.  Such  is  the  fruit  of  revolutionary  equality. 
Eeligion  is  the  sole  remedy  for  this  corruption. 

THE  DUKE 
What  are  you  driving  at  ? 

VAUTEIN 

I  beg  pardon,  but  it  is  impossible  to  refrain  from  explain- 
ing to  a  statesman,  with  whom  I  am  going  to  work,  the  cause 
of  a  mistake  which  annoys  me.  Has  your  grace  confided  any 
secrets  to  one  of  my  people  who  came  to  you  this  morning,  with 
the  foolish  idea  of  supplanting  me,  and  in  the  hope  of  making 
himself  known  to  you  as  one  who  could  serve  your  interests? 

THE  DUKE 

What  do  you  mean?  that  you  are  the  Chevalier  de  Saint- 
Charles  ? 

VAUTEIN 

Let  me  tell  your  grace,  that  we  are  just  what  we  desire  to 
be.  Neither  he  nor  I  is  simple  enough  to  be  his  real  self — it 
would  cost  us  too  much. 


VAUTKIN  66 

THE  DUKE 
Kemember,  that  you  must  furnish  proofs. 

VAUTRIN 

If  your  grace  has  confided  any  important  secret  to  him,  I 
*hall  have  immediately  to  put  him  under  surveillance. 

THE  DUKE  (aside) 
This  man  seems  more  honest  and  reliable  than  the  other. 

VAUTRIN 
We  put  the  secret  police  on  such  cases. 

THE  DUKE 

You  ought  not  to  have  come  here,  sir,  unless  you  were  able 
to  justify  your  assertions. 

VAUTRIN 

I  have  done  my  duty.  I  hope  that  the  ambition  of  this 
man,  who  is  capable  of  selling  himself  to  the  highest  bidder, 
may  be  of  service  to  you. 

THE  DUKE  (aside) 

How  can  he  have  learned  so  promptly  the  secret  of  my 
morning  interview? 

VAUTRIN  (aside) 

He  hesitates;  Joseph  is  right,  some  important  secret  is  at 
stake. 

THE  DUKE 
Sir! 

VAUTRIN 
Your  grace ! 

THE  DUKE 
It  is  the  interest  of  both  of  us  to  defeat  this  man. 


56  VAUTRIN 

VAUTRIN 

That  would  be  dangerous,  if  he  has  your  secret;  for  he  is 
tricky. 

THE  DUKE 
Yes,  the  fellow  has  wit. 

VAUTRIN 
Did  you  give  him  a  commission  ? 

THE  DUKE 

Nothing  of  importance;  I  wish  to  find  out  all  about  a 
certain  M.  de  Frescas. 

VAUTRIN  (aside) 

Merely  that !  (Aloud)  I  can  tell  your  grace  all  about  him. 
Raoul  de  Frescas  is  a  young  nobleman  whose  family  is  mixed 
up  in  an  affair  of  high  treason,  and  he  does  not  like  to  assume 
his  father's  name. 

THE  DUKE 
He  has  a  father,  then? 

VAUTRIN 
He  has  a  father. 

THE  DUKE 
And  where  does  he  come  from  ?    What  is  his  fortune  ? 

VAUTRIN 

We  are  changing  our  roles,  and  your  grace  must  excuse  my 
not  answering  until  you  tell  me  what  special  interest  your 
grace  has  in  M.  de  Frescas. 

THE  DUKE 
You  are  forgetting  yourself,  sir! 


VAUTRIN  57 

VAUTRIN  (with  assumed  humility) 

Yes,  I  am  forgetting  the  fact  that  there  is  an  enormous 
difference  between  spies  and  those  who  set  them. 

THE  DUKE 
Joseph ! 

VAUTRIN  (aside) 

This  duke  has  set  his  spies  upon  us ;  I  must  hurry.  ( Vautrin 
disappears  through  the  side  door,  by  which  he  entered  in  the 
first  act.') 

THE  DUKE   (turning  back) 

You  shall  not  leave  the  house.  Heavens!  where  is  he? 
(He  rings  and  Joseph  answers.)  Let  all  the  doors  of  the 
house  be  locked,  a  man  has  got  into  the  house.  Quick!  let 
all  look  for  him,  and  let  him  be  apprehended.  (He  goes  to 
the  room  of  the  duchess.) 

JOSEPH  (looking  through  the  postern) 
He  is  far  away  by  this  time. 

Curtain  to  the  Second  Act. 


58  VAUTRIN 

ACT  III. 

SCENE  FIRST. 
(A  room  in  the  house  of  Raoul  de  Frescos.) 

LAFOURAILLE  (alone) 

Would  my  late  excellent  father,  who  advised  me  to  frequent 
none  but  the  best  society,  have  been  satisfied  with  me  yester- 
day? I  spent  all  night  with  ministers'  valets,  attendants  of 
the  embassy,  princes',  dukes',  peers'  coachmen — none  but  these, 
all  reliable  men,  in  good  luck ;  they  steal  only  from  their  mas- 
ters. My  master  danced  with  a  fine  chit  of  a  girl  whose  hair 
was  powdered  with  a  million's  worth  of  diamonds,  and  he  had 
no  eyes  for  anything  but  the  bouquet  she  carried  in  her  hand ; 
simple  young  man,  we  sympathize  with  you.  Old  Jacques 
Collin — Botheration!  there  I  trip  again,  I  cannot  reconcile 
myself  to  this  common  name — I  mean  M.  Vautrin,  will 
arrange  all  that.  In  a  little  time  diamonds  and  dowry  will 
take  an  airing,  and  they  have  need  of  it ;  to  think  of  them  as 
always  in  the  same  strong  boxes!  "Pis  against  the  laws  of 
circulation.  What  a  joker  he  is ! — He  sets  you  up  as  a  young 
man  of  means.  He  is  so  kind,  he  talks  so  finely,  the  heiress 
comes  in,  the  trick  is  done,  and  we  all  cry  shares !  The  money 
will  have  been  well  earned.  You  see  we  have  been  here  six 
months.  Haven't  we  put  on  the  look  of  idiots !  Everybody  in 
the  neighborhood  takes  us  for  good  simple  folk.  And  who 
would  refuse  to  do  anything  for  Vautrin  ?  He  said  to  us :  "Be 
virtuous,"  and  virtuous  we  became.  I  fear  him  as  I  fear  the 
police,  and  yet  I  love  him  even  more  than  money. 

VAUTRIN   (calling  from  the  outside) 
Laf  ouraille ! 


VAUTRIN  59 

LAFOURAILLE 

There  he  is!  I  haven't  seen  his  face  this  morning — that 
means  a  storm;  I  prefer  it  should  fall  upon  some  one  else, 
and  will  get  out.  (He  starts  to  the  door  but  encounters 
Vautrin.) 


SCENE  SECOND. 

VAUTRIN  AND  LAFOURAILLE. 

(Vautrin  is  dressed  in  long  white  duck  trousers  and  a  waist- 
coat of  the  same  material,  slippers  of  red  morocco, 
— the  morning  dress  of  a  business  man.) 

VAUTRIN 
Lafouraille. 

LAFOURAILLE 
Sir? 

VAUTRIN 
Where  are  you  going? 

LAFOURAILLE 
To  get  your  letters. 

'VAUTRIN 

I  have  them.    Have  you  anything  else  to  do? 

LAFOURAILLE 
Yes,  your  chamber — 

VAUTRIN 

In  so  many  words  you  want  to  avoid  me.  I  have  always 
found  that  restless  legs  never  go  with  a  quiet  conscience.  Stay 
where  you  are.  I  want  to  talk  with  you. 


60  VAUTRIN 

LAFOURAILLE 
I  am  at  your  service. 

VAUTRIN 

I  hope  you  are.  Come  here.  You  told  us,  under  the  fair 
sky  of  Provence,  a  certain  story  which  was  little  to  your 
credit.  A  steward  beat  you  at  play ;  do  you  recollect  ? 

LAFOURAILLE 

A  steward?  yes,  that  fellow  Charles  Blondet,  the  only  man 
who  ever  robbed  me !  Can  a  fellow  forget  that  ? 

VAUTRIN 

Had  you  not  on  one  occasion  sold  your  master  to  him? 
That's  common  enough. 

LAFOURAILLE 
On  one  occasion  ?    I  sold  him  three  times  over. 

VAUTRIN 

That  was  better.  And  what  business  was  the  steward  then 
engaged  in? 

LAFOURAILLE 

I  was  going  to  tell  you.  I  was  footman  at  eighteen  with 
the  De  Langeacs — 

VAUTRI2T 

I  thought  it  was  in  the  Due  de  Montsorel's  house. 

LAPOCRAILLE 

No;  the  duke,  fortunately,  has  only  twice  set  eyes  on  me>, 
and  has,  I  hope,  forgotten  me. 

VAUTRIN 
Did  you  rob  him* 

LAFOURAILLE 
Well,  to  some  small  extent. 


VAUTEIN  61 

VAUTRIN 
Why  do  you  want  him  to  forget  you? 

LAFOURAILLE 

Because,  after  seeing  him  again,  yesterday,  at  the  embassy, 
1  should  then  feel  safe. 

VAUTRIN 
And  it  is  the  same  man? 

LAFOURAILLE 

We  are  both  older  by  twenty-five  years,  and  that  is  the  only 
difference. 

VAUTRIN 

Tell  me  all  about  him.  I  knew  I  had  heard  you  mention 
his  name.  Go  on. 

LAFOURAILLE 

The  Vicomte  de  Langeac,  one  of  my  masters,  and  this  Due 
de  Montsorel  were  like  peas  in  the  same  pod.  When  I  was 
forced  to  choose  between  the  nobles  and  the  people,  I  did  not 
hesitate ;  from  a  mere  footman,  I  became  a  citizen,  and  citizen 
Philip  Boulard  was  an  earnest  worker.  I  had  enthusiasm, 
and  acquired  influence  in  the  faubourg. 

VAUTRIN 
And  so  you  have  been  a  politician,  have  you  ? 

LAFOURAILLE 
Not  for  long.    I  did  a  pretty  thing,  and  that  ruined  me. 

VAUTRIN 

Aha!  my  boy,  pretty  things  are  like  pretty  women — better 
fight  shy  of  them;  they  often  bring  trouble.  What  was  this 
pretty  thing? 


82  VAUTRIN 

LAFOURAILLE 

I'll  tell  you.  In  the  scrimmage  of  the  Tenth  of  August,  the 
duke  confided  to  my  care  the  Vicomte  de  Langeac ;  I  disguised 
and  hid  him,  I  gave  him  food  at  the  risk  of  my  popularity  and 
my  life.  The  duke  had  greatly  encouraged  me  by  such  trifles 
as  a  thousand  gold  pieces,  and  that  Blondet  had  the  infamy  to 
offer  me  a  bigger  pile  to  give  up  our  young  master. 

VAUTRIN 
Did  you  give  him  up? 

LAFOURAILLE 

Immediately.  He  was  jugged  in  the  Abbaye,  and  I  became 
the  happy  possessor  of  sixty  good  thousands  of  francs  in  gold, 
in  real  gold. 

VAUTRIN 
And  what  has  this  to  do  with  the  Due  de  Montsorel  ? 

LAFOURAILLE 

Wait  a  little.  When  the  days  of  September  came,  my  con- 
duct seemed  to  me  slightly  reprehensible ;  and  to  quiet  my  con- 
science, I  determined  to  propose  to  the  duke,  who  was  leaving 
the  country,  that  I  should  rescue  his  friend. 

VAUTRIN 
Did  your  remorse  prove  a  good  investment  ? 

LAFOURAILLE 

That  it  did ;  for  it  was  rare  in  those  days !  The  duke  prom- 
ised me.  twenty  thousand  francs  if  I  delivered  the  viscount 
from  the  hands  of  my  comrades,  and  I  succeeded  ia  doing  so- 

VAUTRIN 
Twenty  thousand  francs  for  a  viscount  I 


VAUTRIN  63 

LAFOTJRAILLE 

And  he  was  all  the  more  worth  it,  because  he  was  the  last 
I  found  that  out  too  late.  The  steward  had  disposed  of  all  the 
other  Langeacs,  even  to  a  poor  old  grandmother  whom  he  had 
sent  to  the  Carmelites. 

VAUTRIN 

That  was  good ! 

LAFOURAILLE 

But  then  something  else  happened.  That  Blondet  heard 
of  my  devotion,  he  traced  me  out  and  found  me  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Mortagne,  where  my  master  was  at  the  house  of 
one  of  my  uncles  waiting  for  a  chance  to  reach  the  sea.  The 
noodle  offered  me  as  much  money  as  he  had  already  given  me. 
I  saw  before  me  an  honest  life. for  the  rest  of  my  days ;  and  I 
was  weak.  My  friend  Blondet  caused  the  viscount  to  be  shot 
as  a  spy,  and  my  uncle  and  myself  were  imprisoned  as  his 
accomplices.  We  were  not  released  until  I  had  disgorged  all 
my  gold. 

VAUTRIN 

That  is  the  way  a  knowledge  of  the  human  heart  is  acquired. 
You  were  dealing  with  a  stronger  man  than  yourself. 

LAFOURAILLE 
That  remains  to  be  seen ;  for  I  am  still  alive. 

VAUTRIN 
Enough  of  that !    There  is  nothing  of  use  to  me  in  your  tale. 

LAFOURAILLE 

Can  I  go  now? 

VAUTRIN 

Come,  come.  You  seem  to  experience  a  keen  longing  to  be 
where  I  am  not.  But  you  went  into  society  yesterday ;  did  you 
do  anything? 


64  VAUTRIN 

LAFOURAILLE. 

The  servants  said  such  funny  things  about  their  masters, 
that  I  could  not  leave  the  antechamber. 

VAUTRIN 

Yet  I  saw  you  nibbling  at  the  sideboard;  what  did  you 
take? 

LAFOURAILLE 

Nothing — but  stay — I  took  a  wineglass  of  Madeira. 

VAUTRIN 

What  did  you  do  with  the  dozen  of  gold  spoons  that  went 
with  the  glass  of  Madeira  ? 

LAFOURAILLE 

Gold  spoons !  I've  searched  diligently,  but  find  nothing  of 
that  kind  in  my  memory. 

VAUTRIN 

Possibly;  but  you  will  find  them  in  your  mattress.  And 
was  Philosopher  also  absent-minded? 

LAFOURAILLE 

Poor  Philosopher !  Since  morning  he  has  been  a  laughing- 
stock below  stairs.  He  induced  a  coachman  who  was  very 
young  to  strip  off  his  gold  lace  for  him.  It  was  all  false  on 
the  underside.  In  these  days  masters  are  thieves.  You  can- 
not be  sure  of  anything,  more's  the  pity. 

VAUTRIN   (whistles) 

This  is  no  joking  matter.  You  will  make  me  lose  the 
house:  this  must  be  put  a  stop  to — Here,  father  Buteux, 
ahoy !  Philosopher !  Come  here.  Fil-de-Soie !  My  dear 
friends,  let  us  have  a  clearing  up.  You  are  a  pack  of  scoun- 
drels. 


VAUTRIN  66 

SCENE  THIRD. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  BUTEUX,  PHILOSOPHER  AND  FIL-DE- 

SOIE, 

BUTEUX 
Present!    Is  the  house  on  fire? 

FiL-DE-SOlE 

Is  it  some  one  burning  with  curiosity  ? 

BUTEUX 
A  fire  would  be  better,  for  it  can  be  put  out. 

PHILOSOPHER 
But  the  other  can  be  choked. 

LAFOURAILLE 
Bah !  he  has  had  enough  of  this  trifling. 

BUTEUX 
So  we  are  to  have  more  moralizing — thank  you  for  that. 

FiL-DE-SOlE 

He  cannot  want  me  for  I  have  not  been  out. 

YAUTRIN   (to  FU-de-Soie) 

You?    The  evening  when  I  bade  you  exchange  your  scul- 
lion's cap  for  a  footman's  hat — poisoner — 

FiL-DE-SOlE 

We  will  drop  the  extra  names. 

VAUTRIN 
And  you  accompanied  me  as  my  footman  to  the  field  mar- 


66  VAUTRIN 

shal's ;  while  helping  me  on  with  my  cloak,  you  stole  the  watch 
of  the  Cossack  prince. 

FlL-DE-SOIB 

One  of  the  enemies  o£  France. 

VAUTRIN 

You,  Buteux,  you  old  malefactor,  carried  off  the  opera- 
glass  of  the  Princesse  d'Arjos,  the  evening  she  set  down  your 
young  master  at  our  gate. 

BUTEDX 
It  dropped  on  the  carriage  step. 

VAUTRIN 

You  should  have  respectfully  handed  it  back  to  her;  but 
the  gold  and  the  pearls  appealed  to  your  tigerish  talons. 

LAFOURAILLE 

Now,  now,  surely  people  can  have  a  little  fun  ?  Devil  take 
it !  Did  not  you,  Jacques — 

VAUTRIN 
What  do  you  mean? 

LAFOURAILLE 

Did  not  you,  M.  Vautrin,  require  thirty  thousand  francs, 
that  this  young  man  might  live  in  princely  style?  We  suc- 
ceeded in  satisfying  you  in  the  fashion  of  foreign  govern- 
ments, by  borrowing,  and  getting  credit.  All  those  who  come 
to  ask  for  me  leave  some  with  us.  And  you  are  not  satisfied. 

FiL-DE-SOlE 

And  if,  when  I  am  sent  to  buy  provisions  without  a  sou, 
I  may  not  be  allowed  to  bring  back  some  cash  with  me, — I 
might  as  well  send  in  my  resignation. 


VAUTRIN  §7 

PHILOSOPHER 

And  didn't  I  sell  our  custom  to  four  different  coach-builders 
— 5,000  francs  each  clip — and  the  man  who  got  the  order 
lost  all?  One  evening  M.  de  Frescas  starts  off  from  home 
with  wretched  screws,  and  we  bring  him  back,  Lafouraille  and 
I,  with  a  span  worth  ten  thousand  francs,  which  have  cost 
him  only  twenty  glasses  of  brandy. 

LAFOURAILLE 
No,  it  was  Kirchenwasser. 

PHILOSOPHER 
Yes,  and  yet  you  fly  into  a  rage — 

FIL-DE-SOIE 
How  are  you  going  to  keep  house  now? 

VAUTRIN 

Do  you  expect  to  do  things  of  this  kind  for  long?  What 
I  have  permitted  in  order  to  set  up  our  establishment,  from 
this  day  forth  I  forbid.  You  wish,  I  suppose,  to  descend 
from  robbery  to  swindling?  If  you  do  not  understand  what 
I  say  I  will  look  out  for  better  servants. 

BUTEUX 
And  where  will  you  find  them? 

LAFOURAILLE 
Let  him  hunt  for  them! 

VAUTRIN 

You  forget,  I  see,  that  I  have  pledged  myself  to  save  your 
necks !  Dear,  dear,  do  you  think  I  have  sifted  you,  like  seeds 
in  a  colander,  through  three  different  places  of  residence,  to 
let  you  hover  round  a  gibbet,  like  flies  round  a  candle?  I 
wish  you  to  know  that  any  imprudence  that  brings  you  to 
such  a  position,  is,  to  men  of  my  stamp,  a  crime.  You  ought 


68  VAUTRIN 

to  appear  as  supremely  innocent  as  you,  Philosopher,  ap- 
peared to  him  who  let  you  rip  off  his  lace.  Never  forget  the 
part  you  are  playing ;  you  are  honest  fellows,  faithful  domes- 
tics, and  adore  Eaoul  de  Frescas,  your  master. 

BUTEUX 

Do  you  take  this  young  man  for  a  god?  You  have  har- 
nessed us  to  his  car;  but  we  know  him  no  better  than  he 
knows  us. 

PHILOSOPHER 

Tell  me,  is  he  one  of  our  kind? 

FIL-DE-SOIE 

What  is  he  going  to  bring  us  to  ? 

LAFOURAILLE 

We  obey  on  condition  that  the  Society  of  the  Ten  Thousand 
be  reconstituted,  so  that  never  less  than  ten  thousand  francs 
at  a  time  be  assigned  to  us ;  at  present  we  have  not  any  funds 
in  common. 

FiL-DE-SOlE 

When  are  we  all  to  be  capitalists  ? 

BUTEUX 

If  the  gang  knew  that  for  the  last  six  months  I  have  been 
disguising  myself  as  an  old  porter,  without  any  object,  I 
should  be  disgraced.  If  I  am  willing  to  risk  my  neck,  it  is 
that  I  may  give  bread  to  my  Adele,  whom  you  have  forbidden 
me  to  see,  and  who  for  six  months  must  have  been  as  dry  as 
a  match. 

LAFOURAILLE  (to  the  other  two) 
She  is  in  prison.     Poor  man!  let  us  spare  his  feelings. 

VAUTRIN 
Have  you  finished  ?    Come  now,  you  have  made  merry  here 


VAUTRIN  69 

for  six  months,  eaten  like  diplomats,  drunk  like  Poles,  and 
have  wanted  nothing. 

BUTEUX 
Yes,  we  are  rusting  out ! 

VAUTRIN 

Thanks  to  me,  the  police  have  forgotten  you!  You  owe 
your  good  luck  to  me  alone !  I  have  erased  the  brand  from 
your  foreheads.  I  am  the  head,  whose  ideas  you,  the  arms, 
carry  out. 

PHILOSOPHER 
We  are  satisfied. 

VAUTRIN 
You  must  all  obey  me  blindly. 

LAFOURAILLE 
Blindly. 

VAUTRIN 
Without  a  murmur. 

FiL-DE-SOlE 

Without  a  murmur. 

VAUTRIN 

Or  else  let  us  break  our  compact,  and  be  off  with  you !  If 
I  meet  with  ingratitude  from  you,  to  whom  can  I  venture 
hereafter  to  do  a  service? 

PHILOSOPHER 
To  no  one,  my  emperor. 

LAFOURAILLE 
I  should  rather  say,  our  great  teacher! 

BUTEUX 
I  love  you  more  than  I  love  A  dele. 


70  VAUTRIN 

FiL-DE-SOlE 

We  worship  you. 

VAUTRIN 
If  necessary,  I  shall  even  have  to  beat  you. 

PHILOSOPHER 
We'll  take  it  without  a  murmur. 

VAUTRIN 

To  spit  in  your  face ;  to  bowl  over  your  lives  like  a  row  of 
skittles. 

BUTEUX 
But  I  bowl  over  with  a  knife. 

VAUTRIN 
Very  well — Kill  me  this  instant. 

BUTEUX 

It  is  no  use  being  vexed  with  this  man.    Do  you  wish  me 
to  restore  the  opera-glass  ?    I  intended  it  for  Adele ! 

ALL  (surrounding  him) 
Would  you  abandon  us,  Vautrin? 

LAFOURAILLE 
Vautrin!  our  friend. 

PHILOSOPHER 
Mighty  Vautrin! 

FiL-DE-SOlE 

Onr  old  companion,  deal  with  us  as  you  will. 

VAUTRIN 

Yes,  and  I  can  deal  with  you  as  I  will.     When  I  think 
what  trouble    you    make,  in    your    trinket-stealing,  I  feel 


VAUTRIN  71 

inclined  to  send  you  back  to  the  place  I  took  you  from.  You 
are  either  above  or  below  the  level  of  society,  dregs  or  foam ; 
but  I  desire  to  make  you  enter  into  society.  People  used  to 
hoot  you  as  you  went  by.  I  wish  them  to  bow  to  you;  you 
were  once  the  basest  of  mankind,  I  wish  you  to  be  more  than 
honest  men. 

PHILOSOPHER 

Is  there  such  a  class? 

BUTEUX 

There  are  those  who  are  nothing  at  all. 

VAUTRIN 

There  are  those  who  decide  upon  the  honesty  of  others. 
You  will  never  be  honest  burgesses,  you  must  belong  either 
to  the  wretched  or  the  rich;  you  must  therefore  master  one- 
half  of  the  world !  Take  a  bath  of  gold,  and  you  will  come 
forth  from  it  virtuous ! 

FlL-DE-SoiE 

To  think,  that,  when  I  have  need  of  nothing,  I  shall  be  a 
good  prince! 

VAUTRIN 

Of  course.  And  you,  Lafouraille,  you  can  become  Count 
of  Saint  Helena ;  and  what  would  you  like  to  be,  Buteux  ? 

BUTEUX 

I  should  like  to  be  a  philanthropist,  for  the  philanthropist 
always  becomes  a  millionaire. 

PHILOSOPHER 
And  I,  a  banker. 

FlL-DE-SoiE 

He  wishes  to  be  a  licensed  professional. 

VAUTRIN 
Show  yourselves  then,  according  as  occasion  demands  it, 


72  VAUTRIN 

blind  and  clear-sighted,  adroit  and  clumsy,  stupid  and  clever, 
like  all  those  who  make  their  fortune.  Never  judge  me,  and 
try  to  understand  my  meaning.  You  ask  who  Raoul  de  Fres- 
cas  is?  I  will  explain  to  you;  he  will  soon  have  an  income 
of  twelve  hundred  thousand  francs.  He  will  he  a  prince.  And 
I  picked  him  up  when  he  was  begging  on  the  high  road,  and 
ready  to  become  a  drummer-boy;  in  his  twelfth  year  he  had 
neither  name  nor  family;  he  came  from  Sardinia,  where  he 
must  have  got  into  some  trouble,  for  he  was  a  fugitive  from 
justice. 

BUTEUX 

Oh,  now  that  we  know  his  antecedents  and  his  social  posi- 
tion— 

VAUTRIN 

Be  off  to  your  lodge ! 

BUTEUX 

Little  Nini,  daughter  of  Giroflee  is  there — 

VAUTRIN 
She  may  let  a  spy  pass  in. 

BUTEUX 

She !  She  is  a  little  cat  to  whom  it  is  not  necessary  to  point 
out  the  stool-pigeons. 

VAUTRIN 

You  may  judge  my  power  from  what  I  am  in  process  of 
doing  for  Raoul.  Ought  he  not  to  be  preferred  before  all? 
Raoul  de  Frescas  is  a  young  man  who  has  remained  pure  as 
an  angel  in  the  midst  of  our  mire-pit ;  he  is  our  conscience ; 
moreover,  he  is  my  creation;  I  am  at  once  his  father,  his 
mother,  and  I  desire  to  be  his  guiding  providence.  I,  who  can 
never  know  happiness,  still  delight  in  making  other  people 
happy.  I  breathe  through  his  lips,  I  live  in  his  life,  his  pas- 
sions are  my  own;  and  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  know  noble 
and  pure  emotions  excepting  in  the  heart  of  this  being 
unsoiled  by  crime.  You  have  your  fancies,  here  I  show  you 


VAUTRIN  73 

mine.  In  exchange  for  the  blight  which  society  has  brought 
upon  me,  I  give  it  a  man  of  honor,  and  enter  upon  a  struggle 
with  destiny ;  do  you  wish  to  be  of  my  party  ?  Obey  me. 

ALL 
In  life,  and  death — 

VAUTRIN  (aside) 

So  my  savage  beasts  are  once  more  brought  to  submission. 
(Aloud)  Philosopher,  try  to  put  on  the  air,  the  face,  the  cos- 
tume of  an  employe  of  the  lost  goods  bureau,  and  take  back 
to  the  embassy  the  plate  borrowed  by  Lafouraille.  (To  Fil-de- 
Soie)  You,  Fil-de-Soie,  must  prepare  a  sumptuous  dinner, 
as  M.  de  Frescas  is  to  entertain  a  few  friends.  You  will  after- 
wards dress  yourself  as  a  respectable  man,  and  assume  the  air 
of  a  lawyer.  You  will  go  to  number  six,  Eue  Oblin,  ring 
seven  times  at  the  fourth-story  door,  and  ask  for  Pere  Giroflee. 
When  they  ask  where  you  come  from,  you  will  answer  from 
a  seaport  in  Bohemia.  They  will  let  you  in.  I  want  certain 
letters  and  papers  of  the  Due  de  Christoval ;  here  are  the  text 
and  patterns.  I  want  an  absolute  fac-simile,  with  the 
briefest  possible  delay.  Lafouraille,  you  must  go  and  insert  a 
few  lines  in  the  newspapers,  notifying  the  arrival  of  ... 
(He  whispers  into  his  ear.)  This  forms  part  of  my  plan. 
Now  leave  me. 

LAFOURAILLE 

Well,  are  you  satisfied? 

VAUTRIN 

Yes. 

PHILOSOPHER 
You  want  nothing  more  of  us  ? 

VAUTRIN 
Nothing. 

FiL-DE-SOlE 

There  will  be  no  more  rebellion ;  every  one  will  be  good. 


74  VAUTRIN 

BUTEUX 

Let  your  mind  rest  easy ;  we  are  going  to  be  not  only  polite, 
but  honest. 

VAUTRIN 

That  is  right,  boys;  a  little  integrity,  a  great  deal  of  address, 
and  you  will  be  respected. 

(Exeunt  all  except  Vautrin.) 


SCENE  FOURTH. 

VAUTRIN  (alone) 

In  order  to  lead  them  it  is  only  necessary  to  let  them  think 
they  have  an  honorable  future.  They  have  no  future,  no  pros- 
pects !  Pshaw !  if  generals  took  their  soldiers  seriously,  not  a 
cannon  would  be  fired !  In  a  few  days,  following  upon  years 
of  subterranean  labors,  I  shall  have  won  for  Eaoul  a  com- 
manding position ;  it  must  be  made  sure  to  him.  Laf  ouraille 
and  Philosopher  will  be  necessary  to  me  in  the  country  where 
I  am  to  give  him  a  family.  Ah,  this  love !  it  has  put  out  of 
the  question  the  life  I  had  destined  him  to.  I  wished  to  win 
for  him  a  solitary  glory,  to  see  him  conquering  for  me  and 
under  my  direction,  the  world  which  I  am  forbidden  to  enter. 
Eaoul  is  not  only  the  child  of  my  intellect  and  of  my  malice, 
he  is  also  my  instrument  of  revenge.  These  fellows  of  mine 
cannot  understand  these  sentiments;  they  are  happy;  they 
have  never  fallen,  not  they !  they  were  born  criminals.  But  I 
have  attempted  to  raise  myself.  Yet  though  a  man  can  raise 
himself  in  the  eyes  of  God,  he  can  never  do  so  in  the  eyes  of 
the  world.  People  tell  you  to  repent,  and  then  refuse  to 
pardon.  Men  possess  in  their  dealings  with  each  other  the 
instincts  of  savage  animals.  Once  wounded,  one  is  down- 
trodden by  his  fellows.  Moreover,  to  ask  the  protection 
of  a  world  whose  laws  you  have  trampled  under  foot  is  like 
returning  to  a  house  which  you  have  burnt  and  whose  roof 
would  fall  and  crush  you.  I  have  well  polished  and  perfected 
the  magnetic  instrument  of  my  domination.  Eaoul  was  brave, 


VAUTRIN  75 

he  would  have  sacrificed  his  life,  like  a  fool;  I  had  to  make 
him  cold  and  domineering,  and  to  dispel  from  his  mind,  one  by 
one,  his  exalted  ideas  of  life;  to  render  him  suspicious  and 
tricky  as — an  old  bill-broker,  while  all  the  while  he  knew  not 
who  I  was.  And  at  this  moment  love  has  broken  down  the 
whole  scaffolding.  He  should  have  been  great;  now,  he  can 
only  he  happy.  I  shall  therefore  retire  to  live  in  a  corner  at 
the  height  of  his  prosperity ;  his  happiness  will  have  been  my 
work.  For  two  days  I  have  been  asking  myself  whether  it 
would  not  be  better  that  the  Princesse  d'Arjos  should  die  of 
some  ailment — say  brain  fever.  It's  singular  how  many  plans 
a  woman  can  upset! 


SCENE  FIFTH. 
VAUTRIN  AND  LAFOURAILLE. 

VAUTRIN 

What  is  the  matter  ?  Cannot  I  be  alone  one  moment  ?  Did 
I  call? 

LAFOURAILLE 

We  are  likely  to  feel  the  claws  of  justice  scratch  our 
shoulders. 

VAUTRIN 
What  new  blunder  have  you  committed? 

LAFOURAILLE 

The  fact  is  little  Nini  has  admitted  a  well-dressed  gentle- 
man who  asks  to  see  you.  Buteux  is  whistling  the  air,  There's 
No  Place  Like  Home,  so  it  must  be  a  sleuth. 

VAUTRIN 

Nothing  of  the  kind,  I  know  who  it  is;  tell  him  to  wait. 
Everybody  in  arms !  Vautrin  must  then  vanish ;  I  will  be  the 
Baron  de  Vieux-Chene.  Speak  in  a  German  accent,  fool  him 
well,  until  I  can  play  the  master  stroke.  (Exit.) 


7«  VAUTRIN 

SCENE  SIXTH. 
LAFOURAILLE  AND  SAINT-CHARLES. 

LAFOURAILLE  (speaking  with  a  German  accent) 

M.  de  Frescas  is  not  at  home,  sir,  and  his  steward,  the 
Baron  de  Vieux-Chene,  is  engaged  with  an  architect,  who  is  to 
build  a  grand  house  for  our  master. 

SAINT-CHARLES 
I  beg  your  pardon,  my  dear  sir,  you  said — 

LAFOURAILLE 
I  said  Baron  de  Vieux-Chene. 

SAINT-CHARLES 
Baron ! 

LAFOURAILLE 
Yes!   Yes! 

SAINT-CHARLES 
He  is  a  baron? 

LAFOURAILLE 
Baron  de  Vieux-Chene. 

SAINT-CHARLES 
You  are  a  German. 

LAFOURAILLE 
Not  I !  Not  I !  I  am  an  Alsatian,  a  very  different  thing. 

SAINT-CHARLES    (aside") 

This  man  has  certainly  an  accent  too  decidedly  German  to 
be  a  Parisian. 

LAFOURAILLE  (aside) 
I  know  this  man  well.    Here's  a  go ! 


VAUTRIN  77 

SAINT-CHARLES 
If  the  baron  is  busy,  I  will  wait. 

LAFOURAILLE  (aside) 

Ah!  Blondet,  my  beauty,  you  can  disguise  your  face,  but 
not  your  voice ;  if  you  get  out  of  our  clutches  now,  you  will  be 
a  wonder.  (Aloud)  What  shall  I  tell  the  baron  brings  you 
here?  (He  makes  as  if  to  go  out.) 

SAINT-CHARLES 

Stay  a  moment,  my  friend ;  you  speak  German,  I  •  speak 
French,  we  may  misunderstand  one  another.  (Puts  a  purse 
into  his  hand.)  There  can  be  no  mistake  with  this  for  an  in- 
terpreter. 

LAFOURAILLE 
No,  sir. 

SAINT-CHARLES 
That  is  merely  on  account. 

LAFOURAILLE  (aside) 

Yes,  on  account  of  my  eighty  thousand  francs.  (Aloud) 
And  do  you  wish  me  to  shadow  my  master  ? 

SAINT-CHARLES 

No,  my  friend,  I  merely  ask  for  some  information,  which 
cannot  compromise  you. 

LAFOURAILLE 
In  good  German  we  call  that  spying. 

SAINT-CHARLES 
But  no — that  is  not  it — it  is — 

LAFOURAILLE 

To  shadow  him.  And  what  shall  I  say  to  his  lordship  th« 
baron  ? 


78  VAUTRIN 

SAINT-CHAELES 
Announce  the  Chevalier  de  Saint-Charles. 

LAFODRAILLE 

We  understand  each  other.  I  will  induce  him  to  see  you. 
But  do  not  offer  money  to  the  steward ;  he  is  more  honest  than 
the  rest  of  us.  (He  gives  a  sly  wink.) 

SAINT-CHAELES 
That  means  he  will  cost  more. 

LAFODEAILLE 
Yes,  sir.    (Exit.) 


SCENE  SEVENTH. 


SAINT-CHARLES  (alone) 

A  bad  beginning!  Ten  louis  thrown  away.  To  shadow 
him  indeed !  It  is  too  stupid  not  to  have  a  spice  of  wit  in  it, 
this  habit  of  calling  things  by  their  right  name,  at  the  outset. 
If  the  pretended  steward,  for  there  is  no  steward  here,  if  the 
baron  is  as  clever  as  his  footman,  I  shall  have  nothing  to  base 
my  information  on,  excepting  what  they  conceal  from  me. 
This  room  is  very  fine.  There  is  neither  portrait  of  the  king, 
nor  emblem  of  royalty  here.  Well,  it  is  plain  they  do  not 
frame  their  opinions.  Is  the  furniture  suggestive  of  any- 
thing? No.  It  is  too  new  to  have  been  even  paid  for.  But 
for  the  air  which,  the  porter  whistled,  doubtless  a  signal,  I 
should  be  inclined  to  believe  in  the  De  Frescas  people. 


VAUTRIN  79 

'SCENE  EIGHTH. 

SAINT-CHARLES,  VAUTRIN  AND  LAFOTJRAILLE. 

(Vautrin  wears  a  bright  maroon  coat,  of  old-fashioned  cut, 
with  large  heavy  buttons;  his  breeches  are  black  silk,  as 
are  his  stockings.  His  shoes  have  gold  buckles,  his  waist- 
coat is  flowered,  he  wears  two  watchchains,  his  cravat 
belongs  to  the  time  of  the  Revolution;  his  wig  is  white, 
his  face  old,  keen,  withered,  dissipated  looking.  He 
speaks  low,  and  his  voice  is  cracked.) 

VAUTRIN  (to  Lafouraille) 

Very  good;  you  may  go.  (Exit  Lafouraille.  Aside)  Now 
for  the  tug  of  war,  M.  Blondet.  (Aloud)  I  am  at  your 
service,  sir. 

SAINT-CHARLES    (aside) 

A  worn  out  fox  is  still  dangerous.  (Aloud)  Excuse  me, 
baron,  for  disturbing  you,  while  yet  unknown  to  you. 

VAUTRIN 
I  can  guess  what  your  business  is. 

SAINT-CHARLES    (aside) 
Indeed? 

VAUTRIN 

You  are  an  architect,  and  have  a  proposal  to  make  to  me; 
but  I  have  already  received  most  excellent  offers. 

SAINT-CHARLES 

Excuse  me,  your  Dutchman  must  have  mispronounced  my 
name.  I  am  the  Chevalier  -de  Saint-Charles. 

VAUTRIN    (raising  his  spectacles) 
Let  me  see — we  are  old  acquaintances.    You  were  at  the 


80  VAUTRIN 

Congress  of  Vienna,  and  then  bore  the  name  of  Count  of  Gor- 
cum — a  fine  name ! 

SAINT-CHARLES  (aside) 

Go  choke  yourself,  old  man !  ( Aloud)  So  you  were  there 
also? 

VAUTRIN 

I  should  think  so !  And  I  am  glad  to  have  come  upon  you 
again.  You  were  a  deuced  clever  fellow,  you  know.  How  you 
fooled  them  all! 

SAINT-CHARLES  (aside) 

We'll  stick  to  Vienna,  then.  (Aloud)  Ah,  baron!  I 
recall  you  perfectly  now;  you  also  steered  your  bark  pretty 
cleverly  there. 

VAUTRIN 

Of  course  I  did,  and  what  women  we  had  there !  yes,  indeed ! 
And  have  you  still  your  fair  Italian  ? 

SAINT-CHARLES 
Did  you  know  her  ?    She  was  a  woman  of  such  tact. 

VAUTRIN 

My  dear  fellow,  wasn't  she,  though  ?  She  actually  wanted  to 
find  out  who  I  was. 

SAINT-CHARLES 
And  did  she  find  out? 

VAUTRIN 

Well,  my  dear  friend,  I  know  you  will  be  glad  to  hear  it,  she 
discovered  nothing. 

SAINT-CHARLES 

Come,  baron,  since  we  are  speaking  freely  to  each  other 
to-day,  I  for  my  part  must  confess  that  your  admirable  Pole — 


VAUTRIN  .     81 

VAUTRIN 
You  also  had  the  pleasure? 

SAINT-CHARLES 
On  my  honor,  yes! 

VAUTRIN  (laughing) 
Hal    Hal   Ha!    Ha! 

SAINT-CHARLES  (laughing) 
Ha!    Hal    Ha!    Ha! 

VAUTRIN 
We  can  safely  laugh  now,  for  I  suppose  you  left  her  there? 

SAINT-CHARLES 

Immediately,  as  you  did.  I  see  that  we  are  both  come  to 
throw  away  our  money  in  Paris,  and  we  have  done  well;  but 
it  seems  to  me,  baron,  that  you  have  accepted  a  very  secondary 
position,  though  one  which  attracts  notice. 

VAUTRIN 

Ah!  thank  you,  chevalier.  I  hope,  however,  we  may  still 
be  friends  for  many  a  day. 

SAINT-CHARLES 
Forever,  I  hope. 

VAUTRIN 

You  can  be  extremely  useful  to  me,  I  can  be  of  immense 
service  to  you,  we  understand  each  other!  Let  me  know 
what  your  present  business  is,  and  I  will  tell  you  mine. 

SAINT-CHARLES  (aside) 

I  should  like  to  know  whether  he  is  being  get  on  me,  or  I 
on  him. 


82  VAUTRIN 

VAUTRIN  (aside) 
It  is  going  to  be  a  somewhat  slow  business. 

SAINT-CHARLES 
I  will  tell  you. 

VAUTRIN 
I  am  attention ! 

SAINT-CHARLES 
Baron,  between  ourselves,  I  admire  you  immensely. 

VAUTRIN 
What  a  compliment  from  a  man  like  you ! 

SAINT-CHARLES 

Not  at  all !  To  create  a  De  Frescas  in  the  face  of  all  Paris 
shows  an  inventive  genius  which  transcends  by  a"  thousand 
points  that  of  our  countesses  at  the  Congress.  You  are 
angling  for  the  dowry  with  rare  nerve. 

VAUTRIN 
I  angling  for  a  dowry? 

SAINT-CHARLES 

But,  my  dear  friend,  you  would  be  found  out,  unless  T- 
your  friend  had  been  the  man  chosen  to  watch  you,  for  I  am 
appointed  your  shadower  by  a  very  high  authority.  Permit 
me  also  to  ask  how  can  you  dare  to  interfere  with  the  family 
of  Montsorel  in  their  pursuit  of  an  heiress  ? 

VAUTRIN 

To  think  that  I  innocently  believed  you  came  to  propose 
we  should  work  in  company,  and  speculate,  both  of  us,  with  the 
money  of  M.  de  Frescas,  of  which  I  have  entire  control — and 
here  you  talk  to  me  of  something  entirely  different !  Frescas, 
my  good  friend,  is  one  of  the  legal  titles  of  this  young  man, 


VAUTRIN  83 

who  has  seven  in  all.  Stringent  reasons  prevent  him  from 
revealing  the  name  of  his  family,  which  I  know,  for  the  next 
twenty-four  hours.  Their  property  is  vast,  I  have  seen  their 
estate,  from  which  I  am  just  returned.  I  do  not  mind 
being  taken  by  you  for  a  rogue,  for  there  is  no  disgrace  in  the 
vast  sums  at  stake;  but  to  be  taken  for  an  imbecile,  capable 
of  dancing  attendance  on  a  sham  nobleman,  and  so  silly  as 
to  defy  the  Montsorels  on  behalf  of  a  counterfeit — Eeally, 
my  friend,  it  would  seem  that  you  have  never  been  to  Vienna ! 
We  are  not  in  the  same  class ! 

SAINT-CHARLES 

Do  not  grow  angry,  worthy  steward !  Let  us  leave  off 
entangling  ourselves  in  a  web  of  lies  more  or  less  agreeable; 
you  cannot  expect  to  make  me  swallow  any  more  of  them. 
Our  cash-box  is  better  furnished  than  yours,  therefore  come 
over  to  us.  Your  young  man  is  as  much  Frescas  as  I  am 
chevalier  and  you  baron.  You  picked  him  up  on  the  frontier 
of  Italy ;  he  was  then  a  vagabond,  to-day  he  is  an  adventurer, 
and  that's  the  whole  truth  of  it. 

VAUTRIN 

You  are  right.  We  must  leave  off  entangling  ourselves  in 
the  web  of  falsehoods  more  or  less  agreeable;  we  must  speak 
the  truth. 

SAINT-CHARLES 
I  will  pay  you  for  it. 

VAUTRIN 

I  will  give  it  you  for  nothing.  You  are  an  infamous 
cur,  my  friend.  Your  name  is  Charles  Blondet ;  you  were 
steward  in  the  household  of  De  Langeac;  twice  have  you 
bought  the  betrayal  of  the  viscount,  and  never  have  you  paid 
the  money — it  is  shameful !  You  owe  eighty  thousand  francs 
to  one  of  my  footmen.  You  caused  the  viscount  to  be  shot  at 
Mortagne  in  order  that  you  might  appropriate  the  properly 


84  VAUTRIN 

entrusted  to  you  by  the  family.  If  the  Due  de  Montsorel, 
who  sent  you  here,  knew  who  you  are,  ha !  ha !  he  would  make 
you  settle  some  odd  accounts !  Take  off  your  moustache,  your 
whiskers,  your  wig,  your  sham  decorations  and  your  badges 
of  foreign  orders.  (Re  tears  off  from  him  his  wig,  his  whiskers 
and  decorations.)  Good  day,  you  rascal !  How  did  you  man- 
age to  eat  up  a  fortune  so  cleverly  won  ?  It  was  colossal ;  how 
did  you  lose  it? 

SAINT-CHARLES 

Through  ill-luck. 

VAUTRIN 

I  understand.    .    .    .    What  are  you  going  to  do  now  ? 

SAINT-CHARLES 

Whoever  you  are,  stop  there ;  I  surrender,  I  haven't  a  chance 
left !  You  are  either  the  devil  or  Jacques  Collin ! 

VAUTRIN 

I  am  and  wish  to  be  nothing  but  the  Baron  de  Vieux-Chene 
to  you.  Listen  to  my  ultimatum.  I  can  cause  you  to  be  buried 
this  instant  in  one  of  my  cellars,  and  no  one  will  inquire  for 
you. 

SAINT-CHARLES 
I  know  it. 

VAUTRIN 

It  would  be  prudent  to  do  so.  But  are  you  willing  to  do 
for  me  in  Montsorel's  house,  what  Montsorel  sent  you  to  do 
here? 

SAINT-CHARLES 
I  accept  the  offer;  but  what  are  the  profits? 

VAUTRIN 
All  you  can  take. 

SAINT-CHARLES 
From  either  party? 


VAUTPJN  &> 

VAUTRIN 

Certainly!  You  will  send  me  by  the  person  who  accom- 
panies you  back  all  the  deeds  that  relate  to  the  De  Langeac 
family;  they  must  still  be  in  your  possession.  In  case  M.  de 
Frescas  marries  Mile,  de  Christoval,  you  cannot  be  their 
steward,  but  you  shall  receive  a  hundred  thousand  francs. 
You  are  dealing  with  exacting  masters.  Walk  straight,  and 
they  will  not  betray  you. 

SAINT-CHARLES 
It's  a  bargain! 

VAUTRIN 

I  will  not  ratify  it  until  I  have  the  documents  in  hand. 
Until  then,  be  careful !  (He  rings;  all  the  household  come  in.) 
Attend  M.  le  Chevalier  home,  with  all  the  respect  due  his  high 
rank.  (To  Saint-Charles,  pointing  out  to  him  Philosopher) 
This  man  will  accompany  you.  (To  Philosopher)  DQ  not 
leave  him. 

SAINT-CHARLES  (aside) 

Once  I  get  safe  and  sound  out  of  their  clutches,  I  will  come 
down  heavy  on  this  nest  of  thieves. 

VAUTRIN 
Monsieur  le  Chevalier,  I  am  yours  to  command ! 


SCENE  NINTH. 
VAUTRIN  AND  LAFOURAILLE. 

LAFOURAILLE 
M.  Vautrin! 

VAUTRIN 
Well? 


86  VAUTRIN 

LAFOURAILLE 
Are  you  letting  him  go? 

VAUTRIN 

Unless  he  considers  himself  at  liberty,  what  can  we  hope 
to  learn  from  him  ?  I  have  given  my  instructions ;  he  will  be 
taught  not  to  put  ropes  in  the  way  of  hangmen.  When  Phil- 
osopher brings  for  me  the  documents  which  this  fellow  is  to 
hand  him,  they  will  be  given  to  me,  wherever  I  happen  to  be. 

LAFOURAILLE 
But  afterwards,  will  you  spare  his  life? 

VAUTRIN 

You  are  always  a  little  premature,  my  dear.  Have  you 
forgotten  how  seriously  the  dead  interfere  with  the  peace  of 
the  living  ?  Hush !  I  hear  Kaoul — leave  us  to  ourselves. 


SCENE  TENTH. 
VAUTRIN  AND  RAOUL  DE  FRESCAS. 

RAOUL   (soliloquizing) 

After  a  glimpse  of  heaven,  still  remain  on  earth — such 
is  my  fate!  I  am  a  lost  man;  Vautrin,  an  infernal  yet  a 
kindly  genius,  a  man  who  knows  everything,  and  seems  able 
to  do  everything,  a  man  as  harsh  to  others  as  he  is  good  to 
me,  a  man  who  is  inexplicable  except  by  a  supposition  of 
witchcraft,  a  maternal  providence  if  I  may  so  call  him.  is  not 
after  all  the  providence  divine.  (Vautrin  enters  wearing  a 
plain  black  peruke,  a  blue  coat,  gray  pantaloons,  a  black] 
waistcoat,  the  costume  of  a  stock-broker.)  Oh !  I  know  what 
love  is;  but  I  did  not  know  what  revenge  was,  until  I  felt  I 


VAUTRIN  87 

could  not  die  before  I  had  wreaked  my  vengeance  on  these  two 
Montsorels. 

VAUTRIN  (aside) 
He  is  in  trouble.     (Aloud)     Eaoul,  my  son,  what  ails  you  ? 

EAOUL 
Nothing  ails  me.    Pray  leave  me. 

VAUTRIN 

Do  you  again  repulse  me?  You  abuse  the  right  you  have 
to  ill-treat  a  friend — What  are  you  thinking  about? 

EAOUL 

Nothing. 

VAUTRIN 

Nothing?  Come,  sir,  do  you  think  that  he  who  has  taught 
you  that  English  coldness,  under  the  veil  of  which  men  of 
worth  would  conceal  their  feelings,  was  not  aware  of  the 
transparency  which  belongs  to  this  cuirass  of  pride?  Try 
concealment  with  others,  but  not  with  me.  Dissimulation 
is  more  than  a  blunder,  for  in  friendship  a  blunder  is  a  crime. 

EAOUL 

To  game  no  more,  to  come  home  tipsy  no  more,  to  shun 
the  menagerie  of  the  opera,  to  become  serious,  to  study,  to 
desire  a  position  in  life,  this  you  call  dissimulation. 

VAUTRIN 

You  are  as  yet  but  a  poor  diplomatist.  You  will  be  a  great 
one,  when  you  can  deceive  me.  Eaoul,  you  have  made  the 
mistake  which  I  have  taken  most  pains  to  save  you  from. 
My  son,  why  did  you  not  take  women  for  what  they  are,  crea- 
tures of  inconsequence,  made  to  enslave  without  being  their 
slave,  like  a  sentimental  shepherd  ?  But  instead,  my  Lovelace 
has  been  conquered  by  a  Clarissa.  Ah,  young  people  will  strike 


88  VAUTRIN 

against  these  idols  a  great  many  times,  before  they  discover 
them  to  be  hollow! 

EAOUL 
Is  this  a  sermon? 

VAUTRIN 

What?  Do  you  take  me,  who  have  trained  your  hand  to 
the  pistol,  who  have  shown  you  how  to  draw  the  sword,  have 
taught  you  not  to  dread  the  strongest  laborer  of  the  fau- 
bourg, who  have  done  for  your  brains  what  I  have  done  for 
your  body,  have  set  you  above  all  men,  and  anointed  you  my 
king,  do  you  take  me  for  a  dolt?  Come,  now,  let  us  have  a 
little  more  frankness. 

EAOUL 

Do  you  wish  me  to  tell  you  what  I  was  thinking? — But 
no,  that  would  be  to  accuse  my  benefactor. 

VAUTRIN 

Your  benefactor!  You  insult  me.  Do  you  think  I  have 
devoted  to  you  my  life,  my  blood,  shown  myself  ready  to 
kill,  to  assassinate  your  enemy,  in  order  that  I  may  receive 
that  exorbitant  interest  called  gratitude?  Have  I  become  an 
usurer  of  this  kind?  There  are  some  men  who  would  hang 
the  weight  of  a  benefit  around  your  heart,  like  a  cannon-ball 

attached  to  the  feet  of ,  but  let  that  pass!     Such  men  I 

would  crush  as  I  would  a  worm,  without  thinking  that  I  had 
committed  homicide!  No!  I  have  asked  you  to  adopt  me 
as  your  father,  that  my  heart  may  be  to  you  what  heaven  is 
to  the  angels,  a  space  where  all  is  happiness  and  confidence; 
that  you  may  tell  me  all  your  thoughts,  even  those  which  are 
evil.  Speak,  I  shall  understand  everything,  even  an  act  of 
cowardice. 

EAOUL 

God  and  Satan  must  have  conspired  to  cast  this  man  of 
bronze. 

VAUTRIN 

It  is  quite  possible. 


VAUTRIN  89 

EAOUL 
I  will  tell  you  all. 

VAUTRIN 
Very  good,  my  son;  let  us  sit  down. 

EAOUL 
You  have  been  the  cause  to  me  of  opprobrium  and  despair. 

VAUTRIN 

Where?  When?  Blood  of  a  man!  Who  has  wounded 
you  ?  Who  has  proved  false  to  you  ?  Tell  me  the  place,  name 
the  people — the  wrath  of  Vautrin  shall  descend  upon  them! 

EAOUL 
You  can  do  nothing. 

VAUTRIN 
Child,  there  are  two  kinds  of  men  who  can  do  anything. 

EAOUL 
And  who  are  they  ? 

VAUTRIN 

Kings,  who  are,  or  who  ought  to  be,  above  the  law;  and — 
this  will  give  you  pain — criminals,  who  are  below  it. 

EAOUL 
But  since  you  are  not  king — 

VAUTRIN 
Well !  I  reign  in  the  region  below. 

EAOUL 
What  horrible  mockery  is  this,  Vautrin? 

VAUTRIN 

Did  you  not  say  that  God  and  the  devil  hobnobbed  to  cast 
me? 


90  VAUTRIN 

EAOUL 

Heavens,  sir,  you  make  me  shudder! 

VAUTRIN 

Return  to  your  seat !  Calm  yourself,  my  son.  You  must 
not  be  astonished  at  anything,  if  you  wish  to  escape  being  an 
ordinary  man. 

EAOUL 

Am  I  in  the  hands  of  a  demon,  or  of  an  angel  ?  You  have 
brought  me  up  without  debauching  the  generous  instincts  I 
feel  within  me;  you  have  enlightened  without  dazzling  me; 
you  have  given  me  the  experience  of  the  old,  without  depriv- 
ing me  of  the  graces  of  youth;  hut  it  is  not  with  impunity 
that  you  have  whetted  the  edge  of  my  intellect,  expanded 
my  view,  roused  my  perspicacity.  Tell  me,  what  is  the 
source  of  your  wealth,  is  it  an  honorable  one  ?  Why  do  you 
forbid  me  to  confess  to  you  the  sufferings  of  my  childhood? 
Why  have  you  given  me  the  name  of  the  village  where  you 
found  me?  Why  do  you  prevent  me  from  searching  out  my 
father  and  mother  ?  Why  do  you  bow  me  down  under  a  load 
of  falsehoods?  An  orphan  may  rouse  the  interest  of  people; 
an  impostor,  never.  I  live  in  a  style  which  makes  me  an 
equal  to  the  son  of  a  duke  or  a  peer;  you  have  educated  me 
well,  without  expense  to  the  state ;  you  have  launched  me  into 
the  empyrean  of  the  world,  and  now  they  fling  into  my  face 
the  declaration,  that  there  are  no  longer  such  people  as  De 
Frescas  in  existence.  I  have  been  asked  who  my  family  are, 
and  you  have  forbidden  me  to  answer.  I  am  at  once  a  great 
nobleman  and  a  pariah.  I  must  swallow  insults  which  would 
drive  me  to  rend  alive  marquises  and  dukes;  rage  fills  my 
heart;  I  should  like  to  fight  twenty  duels,  and  to  die.  Do 
you  wish  me  to  suffer  any  further  insults?  No  more  secrets 
for  me!  Prometheus  of  hell,  either  finish  your  work;  or 
shatter  it  to  pieces ! 

VAUTRIN 
Who  could  fail  to  respond  with  a  glow  of  sympathy  to 


VAUTRIN  91 

this  burst  of  youthful  generosity?  What  flashes  of  courage 
blaze  forth!  It  is  inspiring  to  see  sentiment  at  its  full 
tide !  You  must  be  the  son  of  a  noble  race.  But,  Eaoul,  let 
as  come  down  to  what  I  call  plain  reason. 

EAOUL 
Ah !    At  last ! 

VAUTRIN 

You  ask  me  for  an  account  of  my  guardianship.  Here 
it  is. 

EAOUL 
But  have  I  any  right  to  ask  this  ?  Could  I  live  without  you  ? 

VAUTRIN 

Silence,  you  had  nothing,  I  have  made  you  rich.  You  knew 
nothing,  I  have  given  you  a  good  education.  Oh !  I  have  not 
yet  done  all  for  you.  A  father — all  fathers  give  their  life  to 
their  children,  and  as  for  me,  happiness  is  a  debt  which  I  owe 
you.  But  is  this  really  the  cause  of  your  gloom?  There  are 
here — in  this  casket  (he  points  to  a  casket)  a  portrait,  and 
certain  letters.  Often  while  reading  the  letters  you  sigh 
as  if — 

EAOUL 

Then  you  know  all — ? 

VAUTRIN 
I  know  all. — Are  you  not  touched  to  the  heart? 

EAOUL 
To  the  heart. 

VAUTRIN 

0  fool !  Love  lives  by  treachery,  friendship  by  confidence. 
— And  you — you  must  seek  happiness  in  your  own  way. 

EAOUL 

But  have  I  the  power?  I  will  become  a  soldier,  and — 
wherever  the  cannon  roars,  I  will  win  a  glorious  name,  or  die. 


92  VAUTRIN 

VAUTRIN 
Indeed !    Why  should  you  ?    You  talk  nonsense. 

KAOUL 

You  are  too  old  to  possess  the  power  of  understanding  me, 
and  it  is  no  use  trying  to  explain. 

VAUTRIN 

Well,  I  will  explain  to  you.  You  are  in  love  with  Inez 
de  Christoval,  Princesse  d'Arjos  in  her  own  right,  daughter 
of  a  duke  banished  by  King  Ferdinand — an  Andalusian  who 
loves  you  and  pleases  me,  not  as  a  woman,  but  as  a 
ravishing  money-box,  whose  eyes  are  the  finest  in  the  world, 
whose  dowry  is  captivating,  and  who  is  the  most  delightful 
piece  of  cash,  graceful  and  elegant  as  some  black  corvette 
with  white  sails  which  convoys  the  long-expected  galleons  of 
America,  and  yields  all  the  joys  of  life,  exactly  like  the  For- 
tune which  is  painted  over  the  entrance  of  the  lottery  agen- 
cies. I  approve  of  you  here.  You  did  wrong  to  fall  in  love, 
love  will  involve  you  in  a  thousand  follies — but  I  understand. 

KAOUL 
Do  not  score  me  with  such  frightful  sarcasms. 

VAUTRIN 

See  how  quickly  he  feels  his  ardor  damped,  and  his  hat 
wreathed  in  crepe ! 

RAOUL 

Yes.  For  it  is  impossible  for  the  child  flung  by  accident 
into  the  bosom  of  a  fisher  family  at  Alghero  to  become  Prince 
of  Arjos,  while  to  lose  Inez  is  for  me  to  die  of  grief. 

VAUTRIN" 

An  income  of  twelve  hundred  thousand  francs,  the  title  of 
prince,  grandeur,  and  amassed  wealth,  old  man,  are  not 
things  to  be  contemplated  with  melancholy. 


VAUTRIN  93 

RAOUL 

If  you  love  me,  why  do  you  mock  me  thus  in  the  hour  of 
my  despair? 

VAUTRIN 
And  what  is  the  cause  of  your  despair? 

RAOUL 

The  duke  and  the  marquis  have  insulted  me,  in  their  own 
house,  in  her  presence,  and  I  have  seen  then  all  my  hopes 
extinguished.  The  door  of  the  Christoval  mansion  is  closed 
upon  me.  I  do  not  know  why  the  Duchesse  de  Montsorel 
made  me  come  and  see  her.  For  the  last  few  days  she  has 
manifested  an  interest  in  me  which  I  do  not  understand. 

VAUTRIN 
And  what  brought  you  to  the  house  of  your  rival? 

RAOUL 
It  seems  you  know  all  about  it. 

VAUTRIN 

Yes,  and  many  other  things  besides.  Is  it  true  you  desire 
Inez  de  Christoval?  Then  you  can  get  over  this  present 
despondency. 

RAOUL 
You  are  trifling  with  me. 

VAPTRIN 

Look  here,  Raoul!  The  Christovals  have  shut  their  doors 
upon  you.  Well — to-morrow  you  shall  be  the  accepted  lover 
of  the  princess,  and  the  Montsorels  shall  be  turned  away, 
Montsorels  though  they  be. 

RAOUL 
The  sight  of  my  distress  has  crazed  you. 


94  VAUTRIN 

VAUTRIN 

What  reason  have  you  ever  had  for  doubting  my  word? 
Did  I  not  give  you  an  Arabian  horse,  to  drive  mad  with  envy 
the  foreign  and  native  dandies  of  the  Bois  de  Boulogne  ?  Who 
paid  your  gambling  debts?  Who  made  provision  for  your 
excesses?  Who  gave  you  boots,  you  who  once  went  barefoot? 

EAOUL 
You,  my  friend,  my  father,  my  family ! 

VAUTRIN 

Many,  many  thanks.  In  those  words  is  a  recompense  for 
all  my  sacrifices.  But,  alas!  when  once  you  become  rich,  a 
grandee  of  Spain,  a  part  of  the  great  world,  you  will  forget 
me;  a  change  of  atmosphere  brings  a  change  of  ideas;  you 
will  despise  me,  and — you  will  be  right  in  doing  so. 

EAOUL 

Do  I  see  before  me  a  genie,  a  spirit  materialized  from  the 
Arabian  Nights?  I  question  my  own  existence.  But,  my 
friend,  my  protector,  I  have  no  family. 

VAUTRIN 

Well,  we  are  making  up  a  family  for  you  at  this  very  mo- 
ment. The  Louvre  could  not  contain  the  portraits  of  your 
ancestors,  they  would  overcrowd  the  quays. 

EAOUL 
You  rekindle  all  my  hopes. 

VAUTRIN 
Do  you  wish  to  obtain  Inez? 

EAOUL 
By  any  means  possible. 


VAUTRIN  95 

VAUTRIN 

You  will  shrink  from  nothing?  Magic  and  hell  will  not 
intimidate  you? 

EAOUL 

Hell  is  nothing,  if  it  yields  me  paradise. 

VAUTRIN 

What  is  hell  but  the  hulks  and  the  convicts  decorated  by 
justice  and  the  police  with  brandings  and  manacles,  and 
driven  on  their  course  by  that  wretchedness  from  which  they 
have  no  escape?  Paradise  is  a  fine  house,  sumptuous  car- 
riages, delightful  women,  and  the  prestige  of  rank.  In  this 
world,  there  exist  two  worlds.  I  put  you  in  the  fairest  of 
them,  I  remain  myself  in  the  foulest,  and  if  you  remember  me, 
it  is  all  I  ask  of  you. 

EAOUL 

While  you  make  me  shudder  with  horror,  you  fill  me  with 
the  frenzy  of  delight. 

VAUTRIN    (slapping   him   on   the   shoulder*) 

•    You  are  a  child!     (Aside)  Have  I  not  said  too  much  to 
him?     (He  rings.) 

EAOUL  (aside) 

There  are  moments  when  my  inmost  nature  revolts  from 
the  acceptance  of  his  benefits.  When  he  put  his  hand  on  my 
shoulder  it  was  like  a  red-hot  iron ;  and  yet  he  has  never  done 
anything  but  good  to  me !  He  conceals  from  me  the  means, 
but  the  ends  are  all  for  me. 

VAUTRIN 
What  are  you  saying  there? 

EAOUL 
I  am  resolved  to  accept  nothing,  unless  my  honor — 


96  VAUTRIN 

VAUTRIN 

We  will  take  care  of  your  honor!  Is  it  not  I  who  have 
fostered  your  sense  of  honor?  Have  I  ever  compromised  it? 

EAOUL 
You  must  explain  to  me — 

VAUTRIN 
I  will  explain  nothing. 

EAOUL 

Nothing? 

VAUTRIN 

Did  you  not  say,  "By  any  possible  means"  ?  When  Inez  is 
once  yours,  does  it  matter  what  I  have  done,  or  who  I  am? 
You  will  take  Inez  away;  you  will  travel.  The  Christoval 
family  will  protect  the  Prince  of  Arjos.  (To  Lafouraille) 
Put  some  bottles  of  champagne  on  ice;  your  master  is  to  be 
married,  he  bids  farewell  to  bachelor  life.  His  friends  are 
invited.  Go  and  seek  his  mistresses,  if  there  are  any  left! 
All  shall  attend  the  wedding — a  general  turn-out  in  full 
dress. 

EAOUL  (aside) 

His  confidence  terrifies  me,  but  he  is  always  right. 

VAUTRIN 
Now  for  the  dinner ! 

ALL 
Now  for  the  dinner ! 

VAUTRIN 

Do  not  take  your  pleasure  gloomily ;  laugh  for  the  last  time, 
while  liberty  is  still  yours;  I  will  order  none  but  Spanish 
wines,  for  they  are  in  fashion  to-day. 

Curtain  to  the  Third  Act. 


VAUTRIN  97 

ACT  IV. 
SCENE  FIRST. 

(Drawing-room  of  the  Duchesse  de  Christoval.) 
THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL  AND  INEZ. 

INEZ 

If  M.  de  Frescas  is  of  obscure  birth,  mother,  I  will  at  once 
give  him  up ;  but  you,  on  your  part,  must  be  good  enough  not 
to  insist  upon  my  marriage  with  the  Marquis  de  Montsorel. 

THE  DUCHESS 

If  I  oppose  this  unreasonable  match,  it  is  certainly  not  for 
the  purpose  of  making  another  with  a  designing  family. 

INEZ 

Unreasonable  ?  Who  knows  whether  it  be  so  or  not  ?  You 
believe  him  to  be  an  adventurer,  I  believe  he  is  a  gentleman, 
and  we  have  nothing  to  refute  either  view. 

THE  DUCHESS 

We  shall  not  have  to  wait  long  for  proofs;  the  Montsorels 
are  too  eager  to  unmask  him. 

INEZ 

And  he,  I  believe,  loves  me  too  much  to  delay  proving  him- 
self worthy  of  us.  Was  not  his  behavior  yesterday  noble  in 
the  extreme? 

THE  DUCHESS 

Don't  you  see,  silly  child,  that  your  happiness  is  identical 


98  VAUTRIN 

with  mine  ?  Let  Kaoul  satisfy  the  world,  and  I  shall  be  ready 
to  fight  for  you  not  only  against  the  intrigues  of  the  Mont- 
sorels,  but  at  the  court  of  Spain,  itself. 

INEZ 
Ah,  mother,  I  perceive  that  you  also  love  him. 

THE  DUCHESS 
Is  he  not  the  man  of  your  choice? 


SCENE  SECOND. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  A  FOOTMAN  AND  VAUTRIN. 

(The  footman  brings  the  duchess  a  card,  wrapped  up  and 

sealed.) 

THE  DUCHESS  (to  Inez) 

General  Crustamente,  the  secret  envoy  of  his  Majesty  Don 
Augustine  I.,  Emperor  of  Mexico.  What  can  he  have  to  say 
to  me? 

INEZ 

Of  Mexico !    He  doubtless  brings  news  of  my  father ! 

THE  DUCHESS  (to  the  footman) 

Let  him  come  in. 

(Vautrin  enters  dressed  like  a  Mexican  general,  his  height 
increased  four  inches.  His  hat  has  white  plumes;  his  coat 
blue,  with  the  rich  lace  of  a  Mexican  general  officer;  his 
trousers  white,  his  scarf  crimson,  his  hair  long  and  frizzed 
like  that  of  Murat;  he  wears  a  long  sabre,  and  his  com- 
plexion is  copper-hued.  He  stutters  like  the  Spaniards  of 
Mexico,  and  his  accent  resembles  Provengal,  plus  the  gut- 
tural intonation  of  the  Moors.) 


VAUTRIN  99 

VAUTEIN 

Is  it  indeed  her  grace,  the  Duchesse  de  Christoval  that  I 
have  the  honor  to  address? 

THE  DUCHESS 
Yes,  sir. 

VAUTBIN 
And  mademoiselle? 

THE  DUCHESS 
My  daughter,  sir. 

VAUTEIN 

Mademoiselle  is  then  the  Senora  Inez,  in  her  own  right 
Princesse  d'Arjos.  When  I  see  you,  I  understand  per- 
fectly M.  de  Christoval's  idolatry  of  his  daughter.  But, 
ladies,  hefore  anything  further,  let  me  impose  upon  you  the 
utmost  secrecy.  My  mission  is  already  a  difficult  one,  but, 
if  it  is  suspected  that  there  is  any  communication  between 
you  and  me,  we  should  all  be  seriously  compromised. 

THE  DUCHESS 
I  promise  to  keep  secret  both  your  name  and  your  visit. 

INEZ 

General,  if  the  matter  concerns  my  father,  you  will  allow 
me  to  remain  here? 

VAUTRIN 
You  are  nobles,  and  Spaniards,  and  I  rely  upon  your  word- 

THE  DUCHESS 
I  shall  instruct  my  servants  to  keep  silence  on  the  subject. 

VAUTEIN 

Don't  say  a  word  to  them;  to  demand  silence  is  often  to 
provoke  indiscreet  talk.  I  can  answer  for  my  own  people. 


100  VAUTRIN 

I  pledged  myself  to  bring  you  news  of  M.  de  Christoval,  as 
soon  as  I  reached  Paris,  and  this  is  my  first  visit. 

THE  DUCHESS 

Tell  us  at  once  about  my  husband,  general;  where  is  he 
now? 

VAUTRIN 

Mexico  has  become  what  was  sooner  or  later  inevitable,  a 
state  independent  of  Spain.  At  the  moment  I  speak  there  are 
no  more  Spaniards,  only  Mexicans,  in  Mexico. 

THE  DUCHESS 
At  this  moment? 

VAUTRIN 

Everything  seems  to  happen  in  a  moment  where  the  causes 
are  not  discerned.  How  could  it  be  otherwise?  Mexico  felt 
the  need  of  her  independence,  she  has  chosen  an  emperor! 
Although  nothing  could  be  more  natural,  it  may  still  sur- 
prise us :  while  principles  can  wait  to  be  recognized  men  are 
always  in  a  hurry. 

THE  DUCHESS 
What  has  happened  to  M.  de  Christoval? 

VAUTRIN 

Do  not  be  alarmed,  madame ;  he  is  not  emperor.  His  grace 
the  duke  has  been  unsuccessful,  in  spite  of  a  desperate  strug- 
gle, in  keeping  the  kingdom  loyal  to  Ferdinand  VII. 

THE  DUCHESS 
But,  sir,  my  husband  is  not  a  soldier. 

VAUTRIN 

Of  course  he  is  not;  but  he  is  a  clever  loyalist,  and  has 
acquitted  himself  well.  If  he  does  eventually  succeed,  he 


VAUTRIN  101 

will  be  received  back  again  into  royal  favor.     Ferdinand 
cannot  help  appointing  him  viceroy. 

THE  DUCHESS 
In  what  a  strange  century  do  we  live! 

VAUTRIN 

Revolutions  succeed  without  resembling  each  other. 
France  sets  the  example  to  the  world.  But  let  me  beg  of  you 
not  to  talk  politics;  it  is  dangerous  ground. 

INEZ 
Has  my  father  received  our  letters,  general? 

VAUTRIN 

In  the  confusion  of  such  a  conflict  letters  may  go  astray, 
when  even  crowns  are  lost. 

THE  DUCHESS 
And  what  has  become  of  M.  de  Christoval? 

VAUTRIN 

The  aged  Amoagos,  who  exercises  enormous  influence  in 
those  regions,  saved  your  husband's  life  at  the  moment  I 
was  going  to  have  him  shot — 

THE  DUCHESS  AND  HER  DAUGHTER. 
Ah! 

VAUTRIN 
It  was  thus  that  he  and  I  became  acquainted. 

THE  DUCHESS 
You,  general? 

INEZ 
And  my  father? 


108  VAUTRIN 

VAUTRIN 

Well,  ladies,  I  should  have  heen  either  hanged  by  him,  as 
a  rebel,  or  hailed  by  others  as  the  hero  of  an  emancipated 
nation,  and  here  I  am.  The  sudden  arrival  of  Amoagos,  at 
the  head  of  his  miners,  decided  the  question.  The  safety  of 
his  friend,  the  Due  de  Christoval,  was  the  reward  of  his  inter- 
ference. Between  ourselves,  the  Emperor  Iturbide,  my  master, 
is  no  more  than  a  figurehead ;  the  future  of  Mexico  is  entirely 
in  the  hands  of  the  aged  Amoagos. 

THE  DUCHESS 

And  who,  pray,  is  this  Amoagos,  the  arbiter,  as  you  say,  of 
Mexico's  destiny? 

VAUTRIN 

Is  he  not  known  here?  Is  it  possible?  I  do  not  know 
what  can  possibly  be  found  to  weld  the  old  and  new  worlds 
together.  I  suppose  it  will  be  steam.  What  is  the  use  of 
exploiting  gold  mines,  of  being  such  a  man  as  Don  Inigo  Juan 
Varago  Cardaval  de  los  Amoagos,  las  Frescas  y  Peral — and  not 
be  heard  over  here?  But  of  course  he  uses  only  one  of  his 
names,  as  we  all  do ;  thus,  I  call  myself  simply  Crustamente. 
Although  you  may  be  the  future  president  of  the  Mexican 
republic,  France  will  ignore  you.  The  aged  Amoagos,  ladies, 
received  M.  de  Christoval  just  as  the  ancient  gentleman  of 
Aragon  that  he  was  would  receive  a  Spanish  grandee  who  had 
been  banished  for  yielding  to  the  spell  of  Napoleon's  name. 

JNEZ 
Did  you  not  mention  Frescas  among  other  names? 

VAUTRIN 

Yes,  Frescas  is  the  name  of  the  second  mine  worked  by 
Don  Cardaval;  but  you  will  learn  all  that  monsieur  the 
duke  owes  to  his  host  from  the  letters  I  have  brought  you. 
They  are  in  my  pocket-book.  (Aside)  They  are  much  taken 
by  my  aged  Amoagos.  (Aloud)  Allow  me  to  send  for  one  orf 


VAUTRIN  103 

my  people.  (He  signs  Inez  to  ring.  To  the  duchess)  Permit 
me  to  say  a  few  words  to  him.  (To  the  footman)  Tell  my 
negro — but  no,  you  won't  understand  his  frightful  patois. 
Make  signs  to  him  to  come  here. 

THE  DUCHESS 

My  child,  leave  the  room  for  a  moment. 
(Enter  LafouraUle,  made  up  as  a  negro,  and  carrying  a 
large  portmanteau.) 

VAUTBIN  TO  LAFOURAILLE, 
Jigi  roro  flouri. 

LAFOURAILLE 
Joro. 

INEZ   (to  Vautrin) 

The  confidence  my  father  has  reposed  in  you  ensures  you 
a  warm  welcome;  but,  general,  you  have  won  my  gratitude 
by  your  promptness  in  allaying  our  anxieties. 

VAUTRIN 

Your  gratitude !  Ah,  senora,  if  we  are  to  reckon  accounts 
I  should  consider  myself  in  debt  to  your  illustrious  father, 
after  having  the  happiness  to  see  you. 

LAFOURAILLE 
Jo. 

VAUTRIN 
Caracas,  y  mouli  joro,  fistas,  ip  souri. 

LAFOURAILLE 
Souri,  joro. 

VAUTRIN  (to  the  ladies) 

Ladies,  here  are  your  letters.  (Aside  to  Lafouraille)  Go 
round  from  the  antechamber  to  the  court,  close  your  lips, 
open  your  ears ;  hands  off,  eye  on  the  watch. 


104  VAUTRIN 

LAFODRAILLE 
Ja,  mein  herr. 

VAUTRIN  (angrily) 
Souri  joro,  fistas. 

LAFOURAILLE 
Joro.     (Whispering)  There  are  the  de  Langeac  papers. 

VAUTRIN 

I  am  not  for  the  emancipation  of  the  negroes !  when  there 
are  no  more  of  them,  we  shall  have  to  do  with  whites. 

INEZ  (to  her  mother) 

Mother,  allow  me  to  go  and  read  my  father's  letter.     (To 
Vautrin)  General —  (She  bows.) 

VAUTRIN 

She  is  charming,  may  she  be  happy!     (Exit  Inez,  accom- 
panied to  the  door  by  her  mother.) 


SCENE  THIRD. 
THE  DUCHESS  AND  VAUTRIN. 

VAUTRIN  (aside) 

If  Mexico  saw  herself  represented  in  this  way,  the  govern- 
ment would  be  capable  of  condemning  me  to  embassades  for 
life.  (Aloud)  Pray  excuse  me,  madame.  I  have  so  many 
things  to  think  about. 

THE  DUCHESS 

If  absent-mindedness  may  be  excused  in  any  one,  it  is  in  a 
diplomat. 

VAUTRIN 

Yes,  to  civil  diplomats,  but  I  mean  to  remain  a  frank  sol- 


VAUTRIN  105 

dier.  The  success  which  I  derive  must  be  the  result  of  can- 
dor. But  now  that  we  are  alone,  let  us  talk,  for  I  have  more 
than  one  delicate  mission  to  discharge. 

THE  DUCHESS 
Have  you  any  news  which  my  daughter  should  not  hear? 

VAUTRIN 

It  may  be  so.  Let  us  come  to  the  point;  the  senora  is 
young  and  beautiful,  she  is  rich  and  noble  born;  she  prob- 
ably has  four  times  as  many  suitors  as  any  other  lady.  Her 
hand  is  the  object  of  rivalry.  Well,  her  father  has  charged 
me  to  find  whether  she  has  singled  out  any  one  in  particular. 

THE  DUCHESS 

With  a  frank  man,  general,  I  will  be  frank.  Your  ques- 
tion is  so  strange  that  I  cannot  answer  it. 

VAUTRIN 

Take  care,  for  we  diplomats,  in  our  fear  of  being  deceived, 
always  put  the  worst  interpretation  on  silence. 

THE  DUCHESS 
Sir,  you  forget  that  we  are  talking  of  Inez  de  Christoval! 

VAUTRIN 

She  is  in  love  with  no  one.  That  is  good;  she  will  be  able 
then  to  carry  out  the  wishes  of  her  father. 

THE  DUCHESS 
How  has  M.  de  Christoval  disposed  of  his  daughter's  hand  ? 

VAUTRIN 

You  see  my  meaning,  and  your  anxiety  tells  me  that  she 
has  made  her  choice.  I  tremble  to  ask  further,  as  much  as 


106  VAUTRIN 

you  do  to  answer.  Ah!  if  only  the  young  man  whom  your 
daughter  loves  were  a  foreigner,  rich,  apparently  without 
family,  and  b'ent  on  concealing  the  name  of  his  native  land ! — 

THE  DUCHESS 

The  name,  Freseas,  which  you  lately  uttered,  is  that  of  a 
young  man  who  seeks  the  hand  of  Inez. 

VAUTRIN 
Does  he  call  himself  also  Eaoul  ? 

THE  DUCHESS 
Yes,  Eaoul  de  Frescas. 


A  young  man  of  refinement,  elegance  and  wit,  and  twenty- 
three  years  of  age? 

THE  DUCHESS 
Gifted  with  manners  which  are  never  acquired,  but  innate. 

VAUTRIN 

Eomantic  to  the  point  of  desiring  to  be  loved  for  his  own 
sake,  in  spite  of  his  immense  fortune;  he  wishes  that  passion 
should  prevail  in  marriage — an  absurdity!  The  young 
Amoagos,  for  it  is  he,  madame. 

THE  DUCHESS 
But  the  name  of  Eaoul  is  not — 

VAUTRIN 

Mexican — you  are  right.  It  was  given  to  him  by  his 
mother,  a  Frenchwoman,  an  emigree,  a  De  Granville,  who 
came  from  St.  Domingo.  Is  the  reckless  fellow  favored  by 
her? 


VAUTRIN  107 

THE  DUCHESS 
Preferred  to  all  the  rest. 

VAUTRIN 

Well,  open  this  letter,  and  read  it,  madame;  and  you  will 
see  that  I  have  received  full  authority  from  Amoagos  and 
Christoval  to  conclude  this  marriage. 

THE  DUCHESS 
Oh,  let  me  call  in  Inez,  sir.     (Exit.) 


SCENE  FOURTH. 

VAUTRIN  (alone) 

The  major-domo  is  on  my  side,  the  genuine  deeds,  if  he 
comes  upon  them,  will  be  handed  to  me.  Eaoul  is  too  proud 
to  return  to  this  house;  besides  that,  he  has  promised  me  to 
wait.  I  am  thus  master  of  the  situation ;  Eaoul,  when  once 
he  is  a  prince,  will  not  lack  ancestors;  Mexico  and  I  will  see 
to  thai 


SCENE  FIFTH. 
VAUTRIN,  THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL  AND  INEZ. 

THE  DUCHESS   (to  her  daughter) 
My  child,  you  have  reason  to  thank  the  general  very  warmly. 

•  INEZ 

To  thank  you,  sir?  My  father  tells  me,  that  among  other 
missions  you  have  received  is  that  of  marrying  me  to  a  cer- 
tain Signor  Amoagos,  without  any  regard  to  my  inclinations. 


108  VAUTRIN 

VAUTRIN 

You  need  not  be  alarmed,  for  his  name  here  is  Raoul  de 
Frescas. 

INEZ 

What!  he,  Raoul  de  Frescas! — why  then  his  persistent 
silence  ? 

VAUTRIN 

Does  it  need  an  old  soldier  to  interpret  the  heart  of  a 
young  man  ?  He  wished  for  love,  not  obedience ;  he  wished — 

INEZ 

Ah,  general,  I  will  punish  him  well  for  his  modesty  and 
distrust.  Yesterday,  he  showed  himself  readier  to  swallow 
an  affront  than  to  reveal  the  name  of  his  father. 

YAUTRIN 

But,  mademoiselle,  I  am  still  uncertain  as  to  whether  the 
name  of  his  father  is  that  of  a  man  convicted  of  high  treason, 
or  of  a  liberator  of  America. 

INEZ 

Ah !  "mother,  do  you  hear  that  ? 

VAUTRIN  (aside) 

How  she  loves  him !  Poor  girl,  she  does  not  deserve  to  be 
imposed  upon. 

THE  DUCHESS 

My  husband's  letter  does  in  truth  give  you  the  full  author- 
ity, general. 

VAUTRIN 
I  have  the  authentic  documents,  and  family  deeds. 

A  FOOTMAN   (as  he  enters) 
Will  her  grace  the  duchess  see  M.  de  Frescas  ? 


VAUTRIN  109 

VAUTRIN  (aside) 
That!  Baoul  here? 

THE  DUCHESS  (to  the  footman) 
Let  him  come  in. 

VAUTRIN  (aside) 
What  a  mess !    The  patient  is  liable  to  dose  his  doctor ! 

THE  DUCHESS 

Inez,  you  can  see  M.  de  Frescas  alone  hereafter,  since  he  has 
been  acknowledged  by  your  father.  (Inez  kisses  her  mother's 
hand  formally.) 


SCENE  SIXTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  EAOUL. 
(Eaoul  salutes  the  two  ladies.     Vautrin  approaches  him.) 

VAUTRIN  (to  Eaoul) 
Don  Eaoul  de  Cardaval. 

EAQUL 
Vautrin ! 

VAUTRIN 
No!  General  Crustamente. 

EAOUL 

Crustamente ! 

VAUTRIN 

Certainly;  Mexican  Envoy.  Bear  well  in  mind  the  name 
of  your  father, — Amoagos,  a  gentleman  of  Aragon,  friend  of 
the  Due  de  Christoval.  Your  mother  is  dead;  I  bring  the 


110  VAUTRIN 

acknowledged  titles,  and  authentic  family  papers.     Inez  is 
yours. 

RAOUL 

And  do  you  think  that  I  will  consent  to  such  villainies? 
Never ! 

VAUTRIN  (to  the  two  ladies) 

He  is  overcome  by  what  I  have  told  him,  not  anticipating 
so  prompt  an  explanation. 

RAOUL 

If  the  truth  should  kill,  your  falsehoods  would  dishonor 
me,  and  I  prefer  to  die. 

VAUTRIN 

You  wished  to  obtain  Inez  by  any  means  possible,  yet  you 
shrink  from  practicing  a  harmless  stratagem. 

RAOUL  (in  exasperation) 
Ladies! 

VAUTRIN 

He  is  beside  himself  with  joy.  (To  Raoul)  To  speak  out 
would  be  to  lose  Inez  and  deliver  me  to  justice;  do  as  you 
choose,  I  am  at  your  disposal. 

RAOUL 

0  Vautrin  I  in  what  an  abyss  you  have  plunged  me ! 

VAUTRIN 

1  have  made  you  a  prince;   and  don't  forget  that  you  are 
at  the  summit  of  happiness.   (Aside)   He  will  give  in.    (Exit,) 


VAUTRIN  111 

SCENE  SEVENTH. 

INEZ   (standing  at  the  door  through  which  her  mother  has 
passed) ;  EAOUL  (at  the  other  side  of  the  stage). 

RAOUL  (aside) 

Honor  bids  me  to  speak  out,  gratitude  to  keep  silence; 
well,  I  accept  my  role  of  happy  man,  until  he  is  out  of  danger ; 
but  I  will  write  this  evening,  and  Inez  shall  learn  who  I  am. 
Vautrin,  after  such  a  sacrifice,  I  may  cry  quits  with  you ;  all 
ties  between  us  are  severed.  I  will  seek,  I  care  not  where,  a 
Boldier's  death. 

INEZ  (approaching,  after  gazing  at  him) 

My  father  and  yours  are  friends ;  they  consent  to  our  mar- 
riage ;  we  make  love  to  each  other  as  if  they  were  opposed  to 
it,  and  you  seem  lost  in  thought,  and  almost  sad ! 

RAOUL 

You  are  right,  and  I  have  lost  my  reason.  At  the  very 
moment  you  see  no  obstacle  in  our  way,  it  is  possible  that  in- 
surmountable difficulties  may  arise. 

INEZ 
Raoul,  what  a  damper  you  are  throwing  on  our  happiness ! 

RAOUL 

Our  happiness!  (Aside)  It  is  impossible  to  dissemble. 
(Aloud)  In  the  name  of  our  common  love  I  implore  you  to 
believe  in  my  loyalty. 

INEZ 

Has  not  my  confidence  in  you  been  boundless?  And  the 
general  has  quite  justified  it,  even  during  your  silence  before 
the  Montsorels.  I  forgive  you  all  the  little  annoyances  you 
were  forced  to  cause  me. 


112  VAUTRIN 

RAOUL  (aside) 

Ah!  Vautrin!  I  trust  myself  to  you !  (Aloud)  Inez,  you 
do  not  know  how  great  is  the  impression  your  words  make 
upon  me;  they  give  me  power  to  bear  the  overwhelming  rap- 
ture your  presence  causes — Come  then,  let  us  be  happy ! 


SCENE  EIGHTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  THE  MARQUIS  DE  MONTSOREL. 

THE  FOOTMAN  (announcing  a  visitor) 
M.  le  Marquis  de  Montsorel. 

RAOUL  (aside) 

Ah!  That  name  recalls  me  to  myself.  (To  Inez)  What- 
ever happens,  Inez,  do  not  judge  my  conduct  until  I  have 
myself  given  an  account  of  it,  and  believe  at  the  present  mo- 
ment that  I  am  carried  along  by  an  invincible  fatality. 

INEZ 

Raoul,  I  cannot  understand  you;  but  I  shall  trust  you 
always. 

THE  MARQUIS  (aside) 

Again  this  little  gentleman  here!  (He  salutes  Inez.)  I 
thought  you  were  with  your  mother,  mademoiselle,  and  I  never 
dreamed  my  visit  would  be  so  inopportune.  Be  good  enough 
to  excuse  me — 

INEZ 

I  beg  that  you  will  not  go;  there  is  no  one  but  ourselves 
here,  for  M.  Raoul  has  been  accepted  by  my  family. 

THE  MARQUIS 
Will  M.  Raoul  de  Frescas,  then,  accept  my  congratulations  ? 


VAUTRIN  113 

EAOUL 

Your  congratulations?  I  accept  them  (they  shake  hands) 
in  the  same  spirit  as  that  in  which  they  are  offered. 

THE  MARQUIS 
We  understand  each  other. 

INEZ  (to  Raoul) 

Manage  that  he  go  away,  and  do  you  remain.  (To  the  Mar- 
quis) My  mother  requires  me  for  a  few  moments,  and  I  will 
return  with  her. 


SCENE  NINTH. 
THE  MARQUIS  AND  RAOUL;  LATER,  VAUTRIN. 

THE  MARQUIS 

Will  you  agree  to  a  meeting  without  seconds — a  fight  to 
the  death? 

RAOUL 
Without  seconds  ? 

THE  MARQUIS 

Do  you  realize  that  both  of  us  cannot  exist  in  the  same 
world? 

RAOUL 

Your  family  is  a  powerful  one;  your  proposition  exposes 
me,  in  case  I  am  victorious,  to  their  vengeance.  Allow  me  to 
say  that  I  do  not  want  to  exchange  this  house  for  a  prison. 
(Vautrin  appears.)  I  will  fight  to  the  death — but  not  with- 
out seconds. 

THE  MARQUIS 

Will  those  on  your  side  stop  the  duel  ? 


114  VAUTRIN 

RAOUL 
Our  mutual  hatred  is  sufficient  guarantee  against  that. 

VAUTRIN  (aside) 

Well,  now — we  aiways  commit  some  blunder  in  the  moment 
of  success !  To  the  ieath !  This  child  would  gamble  away  his 
life  as  if  it  belonged  to  him. 

THE  MARQUIS 

Very  well,  monsieur;  to-morrow  at  eight  o'clock,  we  meet 
at  the  terrace  of  Saint-Germain,  and  drive  from  there  to  the 
forest. 

VAUTRIN  (coming  forward) 

You  will  not  go.  (To  Raoul)  A  duel?  Are  the  principals 
of  equal  rank?  Is  this  gentleman,  like  you,  the  only  son  of 
a  noble  house?  Would  your  father,  Don  Inigo  Juan  Varago 
de  los  Amoagos  de  Cardaval  las  Frescas  y  Peral,  allow  you 
to  do  it.  Raoul  ? 

THE  MARQUIS 

I  have  consented  to  fight  with  an  unknown  man,  but  the 
greatness  of  the  house  to  which  the  gentleman  belongs  can- 
not nullify  the  agreement. 

RAOUL  (to  the  marquis) 

Nevertheless,  it  seems  to  me,  monsieur,  that  we  can  treat 
each  other  with  courtesy,  and  act  like  people  who  esteem  each 
other  too  much  to  take  the  trouble  to  hate  and  to  kill. 

THE  MARQUIS  (looking  at  Vautrin) 
May  I  know  the  name  of  your  friend  ? 

VAUTRIN 
By  whom  have  I  the  honor  to  be  referred  to  ? 


VAUTRIN  115 

THE  MARQUIS 
By  the  Marquis  de  Montsorel,  sir. 

VAUTRIN  (eyeing  him  from  head  to  foot) 

I  have  the  right  to  refuse  you,  but  I  will  tell  you  my  name, 
once  for  all,  in  a  very  short  time,  and  you  won't  repeat  it. 
I  am  to  be  one  of  the  seconds  of  M.  de  Frescas.  (Aside)  And 
Buteux  shall  be  the  other. 


SCENE  TENTH. 

EAOUL,   VAUTRIN,  THE   MARQUIS  AND  THE   DUCHESSE  DE 

MONTSOREL;  LATER,  THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL 

AND  INEZ. 

FOOTMAN  (announcing  a  visitor) 
Her  grace  the  Duchesse  de  Montsorel. 

VAUTRIN  (to  Raoul) 

Let  me  have  no  nonsense ;  be  calm  and  firm !  I  stand  face 
to  face  with  the  enemy. 

THE  MARQUIS 

Ah,  mother  dear,  and  are  you  come  to  witness  my  defeat? 
All  is  ended.  The  De  Christoval  family  has  trifled  with  us. 
This  gentleman  (he  points  to  Vautrin)  represents  both 
families. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL 

Then  Eaoul  has  a  family?  (The  Duchesse  de  Christoval 
and  her  daughter  enter  and  salute  the  speaker.  To  the 
Duchesse  de  Christoval)  Madame,  my  son  has  told  me  what 
has  occurred  to  frustrate  all  our  hopes. 


116  VAUTRIN 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL 

The  interest  which  yesterday  you  manifested  in  M.  de 
Frescas  has,  I  see,  changed  to  indifference? 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOEEL  (scrutinizing  Vautrin) 

Is  it  through  this  gentleman  that  all  your  doubts  have  been 
satisfied  ?  Who  is  he  ? 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL 

He  represents  the  father  of  M.  de  Frescas,  don  Amoagos, 
and  the  father  of  Inez,  M.  de  Christoval.  He  has  brought  us 
the  news  we  expected,  and  brought  letters  from  my  husband. 

VAUTRIN  (aside) 
Am  I  to  act  this  part  long? 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL  (to  Vautrin) 

Doubtless  you  have  known  the  family  of  M.  de  Frescas  for 
some  time  ? 

VAUTRIN 

My  acquaintance  is  limited  to  a  father  and  an  uncle — (to 
Raoul)  You  have  not  even  the  mournful  satisfaction  of 
remembering  your  mother.  (To  the  Duchess)  She  died  in 
Mexico,  shortly  after  her  marriage. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL 
|     M.  de  Frescas,  then,  was  born  in  Mexico? 

VAUTRIN 
Of  course  he  was. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL  (to  the  Duchesse  de 
Christoval) 

My  dear,  we  are  being  imposed  upon.    (To  Raoul)   Sir,  you 


VAUTRIN  117 

did  not  come  from  Mexico.    Your  mother  is  not  dead,  is  she  ? 
And  have  you  not  been  abandoned  since  your  childhood  ? 

EAOUL 
Would  that  my  mother  were  alive ! 

VAUTRIN 

Pardon  me,  madame,  but  I  am  here  to  satisfy  your  curiosity, 
if  you  wish  to  learn  the  secret  history  which  it  is  not  neces- 
sary you  should  seek  from  this  gentleman.  (To  Raoul)  Not 
a  word ! 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL 

It  is  he !  And  this  man  is  making  him  the  tool  in  some 
sinister  undertaking.  (She  approaches  the  marquis)  My 
son — 

THE  MARQUIS 

You  have  put  them  out,  mother,  and  I  share  your  impres- 
sion of  this  man  (he  indicates  Vautrin) ;  but  only  a  woman 
has  the  right  to  express  her  thoughts  in  a  way  to  expose  this 
frightful  imposture. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL 
Frightful  indeed !  But  pray  leave  us. 

THE  MARQUIS 

Ladies,  in  spite  of  my  ill-fortune,  do  not  blame  me  if  I 
still  have  hopes.  (To  Vautrin)  Often  between  the  cup  and 
the  lip  there  is — 

VAUTRIN 

Death !  (Exit  the  marquis,  after  exchanging  bows  with 
Eaoul.) 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL  (to  Madame  de  Christoval) 

My  dear  duchess,  I  implore  you  to  excuse  Inez.  We  can- 
not make  our  explanations  before  her. 


118  VAUTRIN 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL   (to  her  daughter,  making 
signs  to  her  to  leave  the  room) 

I  will  rejoin  you  in  a  moment. 

RAOUL  (Jcissing  his  hand  to  Inez) 
This  is  perhaps  good-bye  forever!     (Exit  Inez.) 


SCENE  ELEVENTH. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL,  THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONT- 
SOREL,  RAOUL  AND  VAUTRIN. 

VAUTRIN  (to  the  Duchesse  de  Christoval) 
Do  you  suspect  the  motive  that  brings  madame  here  ? 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL 
After  what  happened  yesterday  I  prefer  not  to  say. 

VAUTRIN 
I  guessed  her  love  for  him  immediately. 

RAOUL  (to  Vautrin) 
This  atmosphere  of  falsehood  stifles  me. 

VAUTRIN  (to  Raoul) 
One  word  more,  and  the  affair  will  be  ended. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL 

Madame,  I  know  well  how  strange  my  present  conduct  must 
appear  to  you,  and  I  won't  attempt  to  justify  it.  There  are 
solemn  duties  before  which  the  conventions  and  even  the 
laws  of  society  must  give  way.  What  is  the  character  and 
what  the  powers  of  this  man  ? 


VAUTRIN  119 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL  (to  whom  Vautrin 
makes  a  signal) 

I  am  forbidden  to  answer  this  question. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL 

Well,  I  will  tell  you;  this  man  is  either  the  accomplice  or 
the  dupe  in  an  imposture  of  which  we  are  the  victims.  In 
spite  of  the  letters  and  documents  which  he  brings  to  you,  I 
am  convinced  that  all  evidence  which  gives  name  and  family 
to  Eaoul  is  false. 

RAOUL 

To  tell  the  truth,  madame,  I  do  not  know  what  right  you 
have  to  interfere  in  personal  matters  of  mine. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL 

Madame,  you  were  wise  to  send  out  of  the  room  my 
daughter  and  the  marquis. 

VAUTRIN  (to  Eaoul) 

What  right?  (To  Madame  de  Montsorel)  You  need  not 
avow  it,  for  we  divine  it.  I  can  well  understand,  madame, 
the  pain  you  feel  at  the  prospect  of  this  marriage,  and  am  not 
therefore  offended  at  your  suspicions  with  regard  to  me,  and 
the  authentic  documents  which  I  have  brought  to  Madame  de 
Christoval.  (Aside)  Now  for  the  final  stroke.  (He  takes 
her  aside)  Before  becoming  a  Mexican  I  was  a  Spaniard, 
and  I  know  the  cause  of  your  hatred  for  Albert.  And  as 
to  the  motive  which  brings  you  here,  we  will  talk  about  that 
very  soon  at  the  house  of  your  confessor. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOBEL 
You  know? — 

VAUTRIN 

All.  (Aside)  She  has  some  motive.  (Aloud)  Will  you 
examine  the  documents? 


120  VAUTRIN 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL 
Well,  my  dear  ? 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL 

Be  quick,  and  send  for  Inez.    Examine  the  deeds  carefully, 
I  implore  you.    This  is  the  request  of  a  despairing  mother. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL 
A  despairing  mother ! 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL  (to  herself,  looking  at  Raoul 
and   Vautrin) 

How  is  it  possible  that  this  man  should  know  my  secret  and 
have  this  hold  upon  my  son? 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL 
Will  you  come,  madame?     (Exeunt  the  two  duchesses.) 


SCENE  TWELFTH. 

KAOUL,  VAUTRIN  AND  LATER  LAFOURAILLE. 

VAUTRIN 

I  thought  our  star  was  setting;  but  it  is  still  in  the 
ascendant. 

EAOUL 

Have  I  not  been  humbled  sufficiently?  I  had  nothing  in 
the  world  but  my  honor,  and  that  I  gave  into  your  keeping. 
Your  power  is  infernal,  I  'see  that  plainly.  But  from  this 
very  moment  I  withdraw  from  its  influence.  You  are  no 
longer  in  danger.  Farewell. 

LAFOURAILLE  (coming  in  while  Raoul  speaks) 
No  one   caught, — 'twas  lucky, — we  had  time!      Ah,   sir, 


VAUTRIN  121 

Philosopher  is  below,  all  is  lost !    The  house  has  been  entered 
by  the  police. 

VAUTRIN 

Disgusting !    And  no  one  has  been  taken  ? 

LAFOURAILLE 
We  were  too  cute  for  that. 

VAUTRIN 
Philosopher  is  below,  as  what? 

LAFOURAILLE 
As  a  footman. 

VAUTRIN 

Good ;  let  him  get  up  behind  my  carriage.  I  want  to  give 
you  my  orders  about  locking  up  the  Prince  d'Arjos,  who 
thinks  he  is  going  to  fight  a  duel  to-morrow. 

EAOUL 

I  see  that  you  are  in  danger.  I  will  not  leave  you,  arid  I 
desire  to  know — 

VAUTRIN 

Nothing.  Do  not  worry  about  your  own  security.  I  will 
look  out  for  you,  in  spite  of  you. 

RAOUL 
Oh !  I  know  what  my  future  will  be. 

VAUTRIN 
I  too  know. 

LAFOURAILLE 

Come,  things  are  getting  hot. 

VAUTRIN 
Nay,  the  fat  is  in  the  fire. 


122  VAUTRIN 

LAFOTTRAILLE 

No  time  for  sentiment,  or  dilly-dallying,  they  are  on  our 
track  and  are  mounted. 

VAUTRIN 

Let  us  be  off  then.  (He  takes  Lafouraille  aside)  If  the 
government  should  do  us  the  honor  to  billet  its  gendarmes  on 
us,  our  duty  is  to  let  them  alone.  All  are  at  liberty  to  scatter; 
but  let  all  be  at  Mother  Giroflee's  at  midnight.  Get  off  post 
haste,  for  I  do  not  wish  us  to  meet  our  Waterloo,  and  the 
Prussians  are  upon  us.  We  must  run  for  it. 

Curtain  to  the  Fourth  Act. 


VAUTRIN  123 

ACT  V. 

SCENE  FIRST. 

(The  scene  is  laid  at  the  Montsorel  house,  in  a  room  on  the 

ground  floor.) 

JOSEPH  (alone) 

The  cursed  white  mark  appears  this  evening  on  the  wicket 
gate  of  the  garden.  Things  cannot  go  on  long  in  this  way; 
the  devil  only  knows  how  it  will  end.  I  prefer  seeing  him 
there,  however,  rather  than  in  the  apartments;  the  garden  is 
at  least  away  from  the  house,  and  when  the  warning  comes3 
one  can  walk  out  to  meet  him. 


SCENE  SECOND. 

JOSEPH,  LAFOUEAILLE  AND  BUTEUX;  LATEB,  VAUTEIN. 
(The  humming  sound  of  a  voice  is  heard  for  a  moment.) 

JOSEPH 

There  it  is,  our  national  air,  which  I  never  hear  without 
trembling.  (Enter  Lafouraille)  And  who  are  you  ?  (Lafour- 
aille  makes  a  sign)  A  new  one  coming? 

LAFOURAILLE 
No,  an  old  one. 

JOSEPH 
Oh,  he  whose  mark  is  in  the  garden. 


124  VAUTRIN 

LAFOURAILLE 

Can  he  be  waiting  here  ?  He  intended  to  be  here.  (Buteux 
appears.) 

JOSEPH 
Why,  there  will  be  three  of  you. 

LAFOURAILLE  (pointing  to  Joseph) 
There  will  be  four  of  us. 

JOSEPH 

And  what  do  you  come  to  do  at  this  hour  ?  Do  you  want  to 
snatch  up  everything  here  ? 

LAFOURAILLE 
He  takes  us  for  thieves ! 

BUTEUX 

We  prove  that  we  can  be,  when  we  are  down  in  our  luck; 
but  we  never  say  so. 

LAFOURAILLE 
That  is,  we  make  money,  like  other  people. 

JOSEPH 
But  his  grace  the  duke  is  going — 

LAFOURAILLE 

Your  duke  cannot  return  home  before  two  o'clock,  and  that 
gives  us  time  enough :  do  not  therefore  interlard  with  anxious 
thought  the  professional  dish  which  we  have  to  serve — 

BUTEUX 
And  serve  hot. 


VAUTRIN  125 

VAUTRIN  (he  wears  a  brown  coat,  blue  trousers,  and  a  black 
waistcoat.  His  hair  is  short  and  he  is  got  up  as  an  imita- 
tion of  Napoleon  in  undress.  As  he  enters  he  abruptly 
puts  out  the  candle  and  draws  the  slide  of  his  dark\ 
lantern} 

What !  You  have  lights  here !  You  think  yourselves  still 
members  of  respectable  society.  I  can  understand  that  this 
fool  should  ignore  the  first  elements  of  sane  conduct — but  you 
others !  (To  Buteux,  as  he  points  out  Joseph  to  him)  Put 
wool  in  this  fellow's  ears,  and  talk  with  him  over  there.  (To 
Lafouraille)  And  what  of  the  youngster? 

LAFOURAILLE 
He  is  kept  well  out  of  sight. 

VAUTRIN 
In  what  place  ? 

LAFOURAILLE 

In  the  other  rookery  of  Giroflee's  woman,  near  here,  behind 
the  Invalides. 

VAUTRIN 

And  see  that  he  does  not  escape  like  that  slippery  eel  of  a 
Saint-Charles,  that  madman,  who  came  for  the  purpose  of- 
breaking  up  our  establishment — for  I — but  I  never  threaten. 

LAFOURAILLE 

Upon  the  youngster's  safety  I  will  stake  my  head !  Philoso- 
pher has  put  buskins  on  his  hands  and  frills  on  his  feet,  he 
cannot  stir  hand  or  foot,  and  will  be  given  up  only  to  me.  As 
for  the  other,  who  could  help  it  ?  Poor  Giroflee  cannot  resist 
strong  liquors,  and  Blondet  knew  it. 

VAUTRIN 
What  did  Eaoul  say? 


126  VAUTRIN 

LAFOURAILLE 

He  made  a  terrible  uproar;  and  swore  he  was  disgraced. 
Fortunately  Philosopher  is  insensible  to  metaphors. 

VAUTRIN 

Do  you  think  the  boy  wishes  for  a  fight  to  the  death?  A 
young  man  is  fearful ;  he  has  the  courage  to  conceal  his  terror 
and  the  folly  to  allow  himself  to  be  killed.  I  hope  they  prevent 
him  from  writing  to  any  one. 

LAFOURAILLE  (aside) 

We  are  in  for  it !  (Aloud)  I  can  conceal  nothing  from 
you ;  before  he  was  fastened  up  the  prince  sent  little  Nini  with 
a  letter  to  the  Christoval  house. 

VAUTRIN 
To  Inez? 

LAFOURAILLE 
To  Inez. 

VAUTRIN 
He  wrote  a  lot  of  rubbish,  I'll  warrant. 

LAFOURAILLE 
A  pack  of  lies  and  absurdities. 

VAUTRIN  (to  Joseph) 
Hello  there!    You — the  honest  man. 

BUTEUX  (leading  Joseph  to  Vautrin) 
You  had  better  explain  things  to  the  master,  as  he  desires. 

JOSEPH 

It  seems  to  me  that  I  am  not  unreasonable  to  ask  what  risk 
I  am  to  run,  and  what  profit  is  to  accrue  to  me. 

VAUTRIN 
Time  is  short,  speech  long,  let  us  employ  the  former  and 


VAUTRIN  127 

drop  the  latter.  There  are  two  lives  in  peril,  that  of  a  man 
I  am  interested  in,  and  that  of  a  musketeer  which  I  consider 
useless:  we  are  going  to  crush  him. 

JOSEPH 

What !  Do  you  mean  monsieur  the  marquis  ?  I  will  have 
nothing  to  do  with  it. 

LAFOURAILLE 
You  have  no  say  in  the  matter  of  your  consent. 

BUTEUX 

We  have  captured  him.  Look  you,  my  friend,  when  the 
wine  is  drawn — 

JOSEPH 
If  it  is  bad,  it  must  not  be  drunk. 

VAUTRIN- 

And  you  refuse  to  pledge  me  in  a  glass?  He  who  thinks 
calculates,  and  he  who  calculates  betrays. 

JOSEPH 
Your  calculations  lead  to  the  scaffold. 

VAUTRIN 

Enough!  You  tire  me.  Your  master  is  to  fight  a  duel 
to-morrow.  In  this  duel  one  of  the  combatants  will  never 
leave  the  ground  alive ;  imagine  that  the  duel  has  taken  place, 
and  that  your  master  has  had  no  fair  chance. 

BUTEUX 
That  is  just  it. 

LAFOURAILLE 
The  master  is  as  deep  as  Fate. 


128  VAUTKIN 

JOSEPH 
A  fine  condition  to  be  in. 

BUTEUX 
The  devil  to  pay  and  no  pitch  hot ! 

VAUTBIN  (to  Joseph,  pointing  out  Lafouraille  and  Buteux) 
You  will  conceal  these  two. 

JOSEPH 
Where? 

VAUTBIN 

I  tell  you,  you  must  conceal  them.  When  all  are  asleep  in 
the  house,  excepting  us,  you  must  send  them  up  to  the  mus- 
keteer's room.  (To  Buteux  and  Lafouraille}  Try  to  go  there 
without  him ;  you  must  be  cautious  and  adroit ;  the  window  of 
his  room  overlooks  the  court.  (Whispers  in  their  ear}  Throw 
him  down.  It  will  be  a  case  of  despair  (turning  to  Joseph}, 
and  suicide  will  be  a  ground  for  averting  suspicion  from  all. 


SCENE  THIRD. 

VAUTRIN  (alone} 

All  is  saved !  there  is  only  one  suspect  among  us,  and  I  will 
change  that  state  of  affairs.  Blondet  is  the  traitor,  and  in  this 
case  bad  debts  will  make  good  friends,  for  I  will  point  him  out 
to  the  duke  in  a  friendly  manner  as  the  murderer  of  Vicomte 
de  Langeac.  I  must  finally  discover  the  motive  of  the 
duchess's  singular  behavior.  If  what  I  learn  explains  the  sui- 
cide of  the  marquis,  what  a  master  stroke  it  will  be ! 


VAUTRIN  129 

SCENE  FOURTH. 
JOSEPH  AND  VAUTRIN. 

JOSEPH 

Your  men  are  well  concealed,  but  you  doubtless  intend  to 
leave  the  house? 

VAUTRIN 

No,  I  am  going  to  do  some  reading  in  the  study  of  the  Due 
de  Montsorel. 

JOSEPH 
But  if  he  comes  home,  won't  you  be  afraid? 

VAUTRIN 
If  I  feared  anything,  would  I  be  the  master  of  you  all? 

JOSEPH 
But  where  are  yon  going? 

VAUTRIN 
You  are  very  curious. 


SCENE  FIFTH. 

JOSEPH   (alone) 

There,  he  is  disposed  of  for  the  moment,  his  two  fellows 
likewise ;  I  hold  them,  and,  as  I  don't  want  to  have  anything 
to  do  with  the  affair,  I  am  going — 


130  VAUTRIN 

SCENE  SIXTH. 
JOSEPH,  A   FOOTMAN;   AND   AFTERWARDS  SAINT-CHAELES. 

THE  FOOTMAN 
M.  Joseph,  some  one  is  asking  for  you. 

JOSEPH 
At  this  hour? 

SAINT-CHARLES 
It  is  I. 

JOSEPH  (to  the  footman) 
You  may  go. 

SAINT-CHARLES 

His  grace  the  duke  cannot  come  home  until  after  the  king's 
retirement  for  the  night.  The  duchess  is  on  her  way  home.  I 
wish  to  speak  to  her  privately  and  wait  for  her  here. 

JOSEPH 
Here? 

SAINT-CHARLES 
Here. 

JOSEPH  (aside) 

0  my  God !  and  Jacques — 

SAINT-CHARLES 
If  it  inconveniences  you — 

JOSEPH 
Not  in  the  least. 

SAINT-CHARLES 
Tell  me  the  truth,  you  are  expecting  some  one. 

JOSEPH 

1  am  expecting  the  duchess. 


VAUTEIN  131 

SAINT-CHARLES 
And  not  Jacques  Collin  ? 

JOSEPH 

Oh !  don't  talk  to  me  about  that  man,  you  make  me  shud- 
der. 

SAINT-CHARLES 

Collin  is  mixed  up  with  some  business  that  might  bring  him 
here.  You  must  have  seen  him  lately.  I  have  no  time  to  pump 
you,  and  I  have  no  need  to  bribe,  but  you  must  choose  between 
him  and  me,  and  pretty  quickly,  too. 

JOSEPH 
What  do  you  require  of  me  ? 

SAINT-CHARLES 
To  tell  me  everything  that  takes  place  here. 

JOSEPH 

Well,  the  latest  thing  is  the  duel  of  the  marquis ;  he  fights 
to-morrow  with  M»  de  Freseas. 

SAINT-CHARLES 
What  next? 

JOSEPH 
I  see  her  grace  the  duchess  has  just  returned. 


'SCENE  SEVENTH. 

SAINT-CHARLES  (alone) 

What  a  timid  beast  he  is !  This  duel  is  a  capital  excuse  for 
speaking  with  the  duchess.  The  duke  did  not  understand  me, 
he  saw  in  me  nothing  but  a  tool,  to  be  taken  up  and  dropped 


132  VAUTRTN 


at  pleasure.  Did  he  not,  by  imposing  silence  upon  me  towards 
his  wife,  betray  his  suspicion  that  I  was  dangerous  to  him? 
The  patrimony  of  the  strong  is  the  faculty  of  utilizing  the 
faults  of  a  neighbor,,  I  have  already  devoured  several  patri- 
monies, and  my  appetite  is  still  good. 


SCENE  EIGHTH. 

SAINT-CHARLES,  THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL  AND  MLLE. 
DE  VAUDREY. 

(Saint-Charles  disappears  till  the  two  ladies  have  passed,  and 

remains  at  the  bade,  while  they  come  to 

the  front  of  the  stage. ) 

MLLE.  DE  VADDREY. 
You  are  quite  worn  out. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL  (sinking  into  an  armchair) 
Yes;  I  am  dead!    In  despair — 

SAINT-CHARLES  (coming  forward) 
Madame  the  duchess. 

THE  DUCHESS 

Ah !  I  had  forgotten !  Sir,  it  is  impossible  at  this  moment 
to  grant  you  the  interview  you  ask.  To-morrow — or  later  in 
the  day. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY  (to  Saint-Charles) 

My  niece,  sir,  is  not  in  a  condition  to  listen  to  you. 

i 
SAINT-CHARLES 

To-morrow,  ladies,  it  will  be  too  late !    The  life  of  your  son, 


VAUTRIN  133 

the  Marquis  de  Montsorel,  who  fights  a  duel  to-morrow  with 
M.  de  Frescas,  is  threatened. 

THE  DUCHESS 
This  duel  is  indeed  a  frightful  thing. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY  (in  a  low  tone  to  the  duchess) 
You  have  already  forgotten  that  Eaoul  is  a  stranger  to 
you. 

THE  DUCHESS   (to  Saint-Charles) 
Sir,  my  son  will  know  hew  to  acquit  himsel 

SAIXT-CHARLES 

May  I  venture  to  inform  you  of  facts  which  ordinarily 
would  be  kept  from  a  mother?  Your  son  will  be  killed  with- 
out any  fighting.  His  adversary's  servants  are  bravoes, 
wretches  of  whom  he  is  the  ringleader. 

THE  DUCHESS 
And  what  proof  have  you  of  this? 

SAINT-CHARLES 

A  former  steward  of  M.  de  Frescas  has  offered  me  a  vast 
sum  if  I  would  join  in  this  foul  conspiracy  against  the  Chris- 
toval  family.  In  order  to  make  time,  I  pretended  to  assent; 
but  just  as  I  was  on  my  way  to  warn  the  authorities,  I  was 
dashed  to  the  ground  by  two  men  who  came  by  at  full  speed, 
and  I  lost  consciousness ;  they  administered  to  me  in  this  con- 
dition a  powerful  narcotic,  thrust  me  into  a  cab,  and  when 
I  came  to  myself,  I  was  in  a  den  of  criminals.  Recovering 
my  self-possession,  I  escaped  from  my  confinement,  and  set 
out  to  track  these  dare-devils. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 

You  sometimes  come  here  to  see  M.  de  Montsorel,  accord- 
ing to  what  Joseph  tells  us? 


134  VAUTRIN 

SAINT-CHARLES 
Yes,  madame. 

•THE  DUCHESS 
And  who,  pray,  may  you  be,  sir? 

SAINT-CHARLES 

I  am  a  private  detective,  whom  his  grace  the  duke  dis- 
trusts, and  I  am  hired  for  clearing  up  mysterious  occur- 
rences. 

MLLE.  DE  VAODREY  (to  the  duchess) 
0  Louise! 

THE  DUCHESS  (fixing  her  eyes  on  Saint-Charles^ 
And  who  has  had  the  impertinence  to  send  you  to  address 
me? 

SAINT-CHARLES 

A  sense  of  your  danger  brings  me  here.  I  am  paid  to  be 
your  enemy.  You  can  keep  silence  as  well  as  I;  prove  that 
your  protection  is  more  advantageous  to  me  than  the  hollow 
promises  of  the  duke,  and  I  can  assure  you  the  victory.  But 
time  presses,  the  duke  will  soon  be  here,  and  if  he  finds  us 
together,  the  success  of  our  undertaking  would  be  endan- 
gered. 

THE  DUCHESS  (to  Mile,  de  Vaudrey} 
Ah!  we  may  still  hope!      (To  Saint-Charles}   And  what 
were  you  going  to  do  at  the  house  of  M.  de  Frescas? 

SAINT-CHARLES 
That  which,  at  present,  I  am  doing  at  yours. 

THE  DUCHESS 
Silence,  sir. 

SAINT-CHARLES 

Your  grace  has  given  me  no  answer ;  the  duke  has  my  word, 
and  he  is  very  powerful. 


VAUTRIN  135 

THE  DUCHESS 

And  I,  sir,  am  immensely  rich;  but  do  not  expect  to  take 
advantage  of  me.  (She  rises)  I  will  never  be  the  dupe  of  M. 
de  Montsorel,  I  recognize  his  trickery  in  this  secret  interview, 
which  you  had  asked  for.  (With  emphasis)  Let  me  complete 
your  information.  M.  de  Frescas  is  not  a  wretch;  his  ser- 
vants are  not  assassins ;  he  belongs  to  a  family  as  rich  as  it  is 
noble,  and  he  is  about  to  marry  the  Princesse  d'Arjos. 

SAINT-CHARLES 

Yes,  madame,  a  Mexican  envoy  has  produced  letters  from 
M.  de  Christoval,  and  documents  remarkably  authentic.  You. 
have  sent  for  a  secretary  of  the  Spanish  legation,  who  has 
endorsed  them:  seals,  stamps,  authentications — ah!  all  are 
flawless. 

THE  DUCHESS 
Yes,  sir,  the  documents  are  unassailable. 

SAINT-CHARLES 

You  a»e  very  much  interested,  madame,  in  their  being 
proved  forgeries,  I  presume? 

THE  DUCHESS  (to  Mile,  de  Vaudrey) 
Never  has    such    torture  as    this    wrung    the    heart  of  a 
mother ! 

SAINT-CHARLES  (aside) 
Whoso  side  shall  I  take,  husband's  or  wife's? 

THE  DUCHESS 

Sir,  any  sum  you  may  ask  shall  be  yours,  if  you  can  prove 
to  me  that  M.  Eaoul  de  Frescas — 

SAINT-CHARLES 
Is  a  criminal? 

THE  DUCHESS 
No,  but  a  child — 


136  VAUTRIN 

SAINT-CHARLES 
You  mean  your  child,  don't  you? 

THE  DUCHESS  (forgetting  'herself) 

Yes,  yes !  Be  my  deliverer,  and  I  will  be  your  eternal 
protector.  (To  Mile,  de  Vaudrey)  Ah  me!  What  have  1 
said?  (To  Saint-Charles)  Where  is  Eaoul? 

SAINT-CHARLES 

He  has  disappeared,  and  this  steward  of  his,  who  procured 
the  forged  deeds  in  Eue  Obi  in,  and  doubtless  played  the  part 
of  the  Mexican  envoy,  is  one  of  the  most  astute  of  criminals. 
(The  duchess  starts.)  Oh,  you  need  not  be  alarmed;  he  is 
too  clever  to  shed  blood;  but  he  is  more  formidable  than 
those  who  shed  it  recklessly ;  and  such  a  man  is  the  guardian 
of  Eaoul. 

THE  DUCHESS 

My  whole  fortune  for  his  life ! 

SAINT-CHARLES 

I  am  for  you,  madame.  (Aside)  I  know  all,  and  can 
choose  which  side  I  like. 


SCENE  NINTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  THE  Due  DE  MONTSOREL  AND  A 
FOOTMAN. 

THE  DUKE 

Ah,  well,  you  are  getting  your  own  way;  there  is  talk  of 
nothing  else  but  the  fortune  and  coming  marriage  of  M.  de 
Frescas;  but  of  course  he  can  claim  a  family.  (Whispers  to 
Madame  de  Montsorel)  He  has  a  mother.  (Perceiving  Saint- 
Charles)  What !  you  here,  chevalier,  and  with  the  duchess  ? 


VAUTRIN  137 

SAINT-CHARLES    (talcing    the   duke   aside) 
Your  grace  will  approve  of  what  I  have  done.     (Aloud) 
You  have  been  at  the  palace  and  I  thought  it  necessary  to 
warn  the  duchess  of  the  danger  which  threatens  her  only  son, 
the  marquis;  he  is  likely  to  be  murdered. 

THE  DUKE 
Murdered  ? 

SAINT-CHARLES 
But  your  grace  will  listen  to  my  advice — 

THE  DUKE 

Come  into  my  study,  my  friend,  and  let  us  at  once  take 
steps  to  avert  this  catastrophe. 

SAINT-CHARLES  (exchanging  a  looTc  of  intelligence  with  the 

duchess) 

I  have  strange  things  to  tell  your  grace.     (Aside)   I  am 
certainly  going  to  take  the  duke's  part. 


.      SCENE  TENTH. 
THE  DUCHESS,  MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY  AND  VAUTRIN. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 
If  Raoul  is  your  son,  how  vile  is  the  company  he  keeps. 

THE  DUCHESS 
An  angel  would  purify  hell  itself. 

VAUTRIN   (who  half  opens  with  caution  a  French  casement 
that  leads  to  the  garden,  where  he  has  been  listen- 
ing to  the  preceding  conversation.     (Aside) 

I  know  all.    Two  brothers  cannot  fight  a  duel.    Ah,  here  is 
my  duchess!     (Aloud)  Ladies! 


138  VAUTRIN 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 
A  man!     Help!     Help! 

THE  DUCHESS 
It  is  he ! 

VAUTRIN  (to  the  duchess) 

Silence!  Women  can  do  nothing  but  cry  out.  (To  Mile, 
de  Vaudrey)  Mile,  de  Vaudrey,  run  to  the  chamber  of  the 
marquis.  Two  infamous  murderers  are  there;  be  quick, 
before  they  cut  his  throat.  But  let  the  wretches  be  seized 
without  making  a  disturbance.  (To  the  duchess)  Stay  where 
you  are,  madame. 

THE  DUCHESS 

Go,  dear  aunt;  have  no  fear  for  me. 

VAUTRIN  (aside) 

My  rascals  will  be  vastly  surprised.  What  will  they  think  ? 
This  is  the  way  I  bring  down  judgment  upon  them.  (A 
noise  is  heard.) 


SCENE  ELEVENTH. 
THE  DUCHESS  AND  VAUTRIN. 

THE  DUCHESS 

The  whole  house  is  in  commotion !    What  will  be  said,  when 
it  is  known  that  I  am  here? 

VAUTRIN 
Let  us  hope  that  the  foundling  will  be  saved. 

THE  DUCHESS 
But  you  are  known  here,  and  the  duke  is  with — 


VAUTRIN  139 

VAUTRIN 

The  Chevalier  de  Saint-Charles.     I  am  imperturbed ;  you 
will  defend  me. 

THE  DUCHESS 
I? 

VAUTRIN 

Yes,  you.     Or  you  will  never  again  see  your  son,  Fernand 
de  Montsorel. 

THE  DUCHESS 
Eaoul  is  undoubtedly  my  son  then  ? 

VAUTRIN 

He  is — I  hold  in  my  possession  complete  proofs  of  your 
innocence,  and — your  son. 

THE  DUCHESS 
You!    You  shall  not  leave  me  until — 


SCENE  TWELFTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY  on  one  side  of 
the  stage,  SAINT- CHARLES  on  the  other,  AND  DOMESTICS. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 
Here  he  is!     (To  Vautrin)     Begone!    At  once! 

THE  DUCHESS  (to  Mile,  de  Vaudrey) 
You  are  ruining  everything. 

SAINT-CHARLES   (to  the  servants) 

Behold  their  ringleader  and  accomplice !    Whatever  he  may 
say,  seize  him! 


140  VAUTRIN 

THE  DUCHESS  (to  the  company} 
I  command  you  to  leave  me  alone  with  this  man. 

VAUTRIN 
What  is  it,  chevalier  ? 

SAINT-CHARLES 
You  are  a  puzzle  to  me,  baron. 

VAUTRIN  (whispering  to  the  duchess) 
You  behold  in  this  man  the  murderer  of  the  viscount  whom 
you  loved  so  well. 

THE  DUCHESS 
He  the  murderer? 

VAUTRIN  (to  the  duchess)  , 

Let  him  be  closely  watched,  or  he  will  slip  through  your 
fingers  like  money. 

THE  DUCHESS 
Joseph ! 

VAUTRIN  (to  Joseph) 
What  happened  up  stairs? 

JOSEPH 

His  lordship  the  marquis  drew  his  sword,  and  being 
attacked  from  the  rear,  defended  himself,  and  was  twice 
slightly  wounded.  His  grace  the  duke  is  with  him  now. 

THE  DUCHESS  (to  her  aunt) 

Return  to  Albert's  room,  I  implore  you.  ( To  Joseph,  point- 
ing out  Saint-Charles)  I  shall  hold  you  responsible  for  this 
man's  detention. 

VAUTRIN  (to  Joseph) 
So  shall  I. 


VAUTRIN  141 

SAINT-CHARLES  (to  Vautrin) 
I  see  the  situation,  you  have  got  ahead  of  me. 

VAUTRIN 
I  bear  DO  malice  towards  you,  my  dear  fellow. 

SAINT-CHARLES  (to  Joseph) 
Take  me  before  the  duke.     (Exeunt.) 


SCENE  THIRTEENTH. 
VAUTRIN  AND  THE  DUCHESS. 

VAUTRIN  (aside) 

He  has  a  father,  an  ancestral  family,  a  mother.  What  a 
climax !  In  whom  shall  I  henceforth  find  an  interest  ?  Whom 
shall  I  be  able  to  love?  After  ten  years  of  paternity,  the 
loss  is  irreparable. 

THE  DUCHESS  (approaching  Vautrin) 
What  is  it? 

VAUTRIN 

What  is  it  ?  It  is,  that  I  can  never  give  back  to  you  your 
son,  madame;  it  is,  that  I  do  not  feel  brave  enough  to  sur- 
vive his  separation  from  me,  nor  his  contempt  for  me.  The 
loss  of  such  as  Kaoul  is  irretrievable!  My  life  has  been 
bound  up  in  his. 

THE  DUCHESS 

But  could  he  feel  affection  for  you,  you  a  criminal  whom 
one  could  at  any  moment  give  up — 

VAUTRIN 
To  justice  do  you  mean  ?    I  thought  you  would  have  been 


142  VAUTEIN 

more  tender.  But  you  do  not,  I  perceive,  see  the  abyss  in 
which  I  am  dragging  you,  your  son  and  the  duke,  and  which 
all  descend  in  company. 

THE  DUCHESS 
Oh !    What  have  you  made  of  my  poor  child? 

VAUTRIN 
A  man  of  honor. 

THE  DUCHESS 
And  he  loves  you  ? 

VAUTRIN 
He  loves  me  still. 

THE  DUCHESS 

But  has  that  wretch  spoken  the  truth  in  revealing  what 
you  are  and  whence  you  come? 

VAUTRIN 
Yes,  ma  dame. 

THE  DUCHESS 
And  have  you  taken  care  of  my  son? 

VAUTRIN 

Your  son,  our  son — yes — have  you  not  perceived  that  he  is 
as  pure  as  an  angel? 

THE  DUCHESS 

Ah,  may  you  receive  a  blessing  for  what  you  have  done! 
May  the  world  pardon  you  !  0  God !  (she  kneels)  the  voice 
of  a  mother  must  reach  Thee,  forgive,  forgive  this  man.  (She 
looks  at  Vautrin.)  My  tears  shall  bathe  his  hands!  Oh! 
grant  that  he  may  repent!  (Turning  to  Vautrin)  You  be- 
long to  me ;  I  will  change  you !  But  people  are  deceived,  you 
are  no  criminal,  and,  whatever  you  are,  all  mothers  will  give 
you  their  absolution ! 


VAUTRIN  143 

VAUTRIN 
Come,  it  is  time  to  restore  her  son  to  her. 

THE  DUCHESS 

Did  you  still  harbor  the  horrible  thought  of  refusing  him 
to  his  mother?  But  I  have  waited  for  him  for  two  and 
twenty  years. 

VAUTRIN 

And  I,  have  I  not  been  for  ten  years  his  father?  Eaoul 
is  my  very  soul !  Let  me  endure  anguish,  let  men  heap  shame 
upon  me;  if  he  is  happy  and  crowned  with  honor,  I  shall  see 
it  and  my  life  will  once  more  be  bright. 

THE  DUCHESS 
I  am  overwhelmed.    He  loves  like  a  mother. 

VAUTRIN 

The  only  tie  that  binds  me  to  the  world,  to  life,  is  this 
bright  link,  purer  than  gold. 

THE  DUCHESS 

And — without  stain? 

VAUTRIN 

Ah !  People  know  themselves  only  in  their  virtues,  and  are 
austere  for  others  alone.  But  in  myself  I  see  but  infamy — in 
him  the  heart  of  honor.  And  yet  was  he  found  by  me  on  the 
highroad  from  Toulon  to  Marseilles,  the  route  of  the  convict. 
He  was  twelve  years  old,  without  bread,  and  in  rags. 

THE  DUCHESS 
Bare-foot,  it  may  be  ? 

VAUTRIN 
Yes.    But  beautiful,  with  curly  hair — 


144  VAUTRIN 

THE  DUCHESS 
It  was  thus  you  saw  him  ? 

VAUTRIN 
Poor  angel,  he  was  crying.    I  took  him  with  me. 

THE  DUCHESS 
And  you  brought  him  up? 

VAUTRIN 
I  stole  the  means  to  do  so. 

THE  DUCHESS 
I  should,  perhaps,  myself  have  done  the  like. 

VAUTRIN 
I  did  more ! 

THE  DUCHESS 
He  must  have  suffered  much. 

VAUTRIN 

Never!  I  concealed  from  him  the  means  I  took  to  make 
his  life  happy  and  easy.  I  would  not  let  him  even  suspect 
them — it  would  have  blighted  him.  You  may  ennoble  him  by 
parchments,  I  have  made  him  noble  in  heart. 

THE  DUCHESS 
And  he  was  my  son ! — 

VAUTRIN 

Yes,  a  son  full  of  nobility,  of  winning  grace,  of  high  in- 
stincts ;  he  needed  but  to  have  the  way  made  clear  to  him. 

THE  DUCHESS  (wringing  the  hand  of  Vautrin) 
You  must  needs  be  great  indeed,  who  have  so  well  per- 
formed a  mother's  task ! 


VAUTRIN  145 

VAUTRIN 

And  better  than  you  mothers  do!  Often  you  love  your 
babes  amiss — Ah,  you  will  spoil  him  for  me  even  now ! — He 
was  of  reckless  courage;  he  wished  to  be  a  soldier,  and  the 
Emperor  would  have  accepted  him.  I  showed  him  the  world 
and  mankind  under  their  true  light — Yet  now  he  is  about  to 
renounce  me — 

THE  DUCHESS 
My  son  ungrateful  ? 

VAUTRIN 
No,  'tis  mine  I  speak  of. 

THE  DUCHESS 
Oh !  give  him  back  to  me  this  very  instant ! 

VAUTRIN 

I  and  those  two  men  upstairs — are  we  not  all  liable  to 
prosecution?  And  ought  not  the  duke  to  give  us  assurance 
of  silence  and  release? 

THE  DUCHESS 
Those  two  men  then  are  your  agents  ?    And  you  came — 

VAUTRIN 

But  for  me,  of  the  two,  natural  and  lawful  son,  there  would 
not,  in  a  few  hours,  have  survived  but  one  child.  And  they 
might  perchance  both  have  fallen — each  by  the  other's  hand. 

THE  DUCHESS 
Ah !  you  are  a  providence  of  horror ! 

VAUTRIN 
What  would  you  have  had  me  do  ? 


146  VAUTRIN 

SCENE  FOURTEENTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  THE  DUKE,  LAFOURAILLE,  BUTEUX, 
SAINT-CHARLES,  AND  ALL  THE  DOMESTICS. 

i 
THE  DUKE  (pointing  to  Vautrin) 

Seize  him !    (Pointing  to  Saint-Charles)    And  obey  no  one 
but  this  gentleman. 

THE  DUCHESS 

But  you  owe  to  him  the  life  of  your  Albert!    It  was  he 
who  gave  the  alarm. 

THE  DUKE 
He! 

BUTEUX  (to  Vautrin) 

Ah !  you  have  betrayed  us !    Why  did  you  bring  us  here  ? 

SAINT-CHARLES  (to  the  duke) 
Does  your  grace  hear  them  ? 

LAFOURAILLE  (to  Buteux) 
Cannot  you  keep  silence  ?    Have  we  any  right  to  judge  him  ? 

BUTEUX 
And  yet  he  condemns  us ! 

VAUTRIN  (to  the  duke) 

I  would  inform  your  grace  that  these  two  men  belong  to 
me,  and  I  claim  possession  of  them. 

SAINT-CHARLES 
Why,  these  are  the  domestics  of  M.  de  Frescas  I 

VAUTRIN  (to  Saint-Charles) 
Steward  of  the  Langeacs,  hold  your  tongue !    (He  points  to 


VAUTRIN  147 

Lafouraille)    This  is  Philip  Boulard.     (Lafouraille  bows.) 
Will  your  grace  kindly  send  every  one  out  of  the  room  ? 

THE  DUKE 
What !    Do  you  dare  give  your  orders  in  my  house? 

THE  DUCHESS 
Ah !  sir,  he  is  master  here. 

THE  DUKE 
What!  this  wretch? 

VAUTRIN 

If  his  grace  the  duke  wishes  to  have  an  audience  present 
we  will  proceed  to  talk  of  the  son  of  Dona  Mendes. 

THE  DUKE 
Silence ! 

VAUTRIN 
Whom  you  are  passing  off  as  the  son  of— 

THE  DUKB 
Once  more  I  say,  silence ! 

VAUTRIN 

Your  grace  perceives,  evidently,  that  there  are  too  many 
people  within  hearing. 

THE  DUKE 
All  of  you  begone ! 

VAUTRIN  (to  the  duke) 

Set  a  watch  on  every  outlet  from  your  house,  and  let  no  one 
leave  it,  excepting  these  two  men.  (To  Saint-Charles)  Do 
you  remain  here.  (He  draws  a  dagger  and  cuts  the  cords  by 
which  Lafouraille  and  Buteux  are  bound.)  Take  yourselves 
off  hy  the  postern;  here  is  the  key,  and  go  to  the  house  of 


14$  VAUTRIN 

mother  Giroflee.     (To  Lafouraille)    You  must  send  Raoul 
to  me. 

LAFOURAILLE  (as  he  leaves  the  room) 
Oh !  our  veritable  emperor. 

VAUTRIN 
You  iJiall  receive  money  and  passports. 

BUTEUX  (as  he  goes  out) 
After  all.  I  shall  have  something  for  Adele ! 

THE  DUKE 
But  how  di  J  you  learn  all  these  facts  ? 

VAUTRIN  (handing  some  documents  to  the  duke) 
These  are  what  I  took  from  your  study. 

THE  DUKE 

These  comprise  my  correspondence,  and  the  letters  of  the 
duchess  to  the  Viucount  de  Langeac. 

VAUTRIN 

Who  was  shot  at  Mortagne,  October,  1792,  through  the  kind 
efforts  of  Charles  Blondet,  otherwise  known  as  the  Chevalier 
de  Saint-Charles. 

SAINT-CHARLES 
But  your  grace  very  well  knows — 

VAUTRIN 

It  was  he  himself  who  gave  me  these  papers,  among  which 
you  will  notice  the  death  certificate  of  the  viscount,  which 
proves  that  he  and  her  grace  the  duchess  never  met  after  the 
Tenth  of  August,  for  he  had  then  left  the  Abbaye  for  the 
Vendee,  accompanied  by  Boulard,  who  seized  the  moment  to 
betray  and  murder  him. 


VAUTRIN  149 

THE  DUKE 
And  so  Fernand — 

VAUTRIX 
The  child  sent  to  Sardinia  is  undoubtedly  your  son. 

THE  DUKE 
And  her  grace  the  duchess — 

VAUTRIN 
.Is  innocent. 

THE  DUKE 

My  God !  (He  sinks  back  into  an  armchair.)  What  have  I 
done? 

THE  DUCHESS 

What  a  terrible  proof — his  death !  And  the  assassin  stands 
before  us. 

VAUTRIN. 

M.  le  Due  de  Montsorel,  I  have  been  a  father  to  Fernand, 
and  I  have  just  saved  your  two  sons,  each  from  the  sword  of 
the  other;  you  alone  are  the  author  of  all  this  complication. 

THE  DUCHESS 

Stop!  I  know  him  better  than  you  do,  and  he  suffers  at 
this  moment  all  that  I  have  suffered  during  twenty  years. 
In  the  name  of  mercy,  where  is  my  son  ? 

THE  DUKE 
What,  Raoul  de  Frescas? 

VAUTRIN 

Fernand  de  Montsorel  is  on  his  way  here.  (To  Saint- 
Charles)  And  what  do  you  say  about  all  this? 

SAINT-CHARLES 
You  are  a  hero ;  let  me  be  your  servant. 


150  VAUTRIN 

VAUTRIN 
You  are  ambitious.    Would  you  follow  me? 

SAINT-CHARLES 
Anywhere. 

VAUTRIN 
I  can  well  believe  it. 

SAINT-CHARLES 

Ah !  what  a  master  mind  you  obtain  in  me,  and  what  a  loss 
to  the  government! 

VAUTRIN 

Go;  and  wait  for  me  at  the  bureau  of  passports.     (Exit 
Saint-Charles.) 


SCENE  FIFTEENTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL,  INEZ 
AND  MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY. 

MLLE.  DE  VAUDREY 
Here  they  are ! 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  CHRISTOVAL 

My  daughter,  madame,  has  received  a  letter  from  M.  Eaoul, 
in  which  this  noble  young  man  declares  that  he  would  rather 
give  up  Inez,  than  deceive  us;  he  has  related  his  whole  life's 
history.  He  is  to  fight  a  duel  with  your  son  to-morrow,  and 
as  Inez  is  the  involuntary  cause  of  this  duel  we  are  come  to 
prevent  it ;  for  it  is  now  entirely  without  ground  or  reason. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL 
There  will  be  no  duel,  madame. 


VAUTRIN  151 

INEZ 


He  will  live  then ! 


THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL 
And  you  shall  marry  the  Marquis  de  Montsorel,  my  child. 


SCENE  SIXTEENTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  RAOUL  AND  LAFODEAILLE.     (The  last- 
named  does  not  tarry.) 

RAOUL   (to  Vautrin) 

What!  would  you  imprison  me  to  prevent  my  fighting  a 
duel? 

THE  DUKE 
With  your  brother? 

RAOUL 
My  brother? 

THE  DUKE 
Yes. 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL 

You  are,  then,  really  my  child!     (She  embraces  Raoul.) 
Ladies,  this  is  Fernand  de  Montsorel,  my  son,  the — 

THE  DUKE  (talcing  Raoul  by  the  hand,  and  interrupting  his 

wife) 

The  eldest  son,  who  was  carried  off  from  us  in  childhood. 
Albert  is  now  no  more  than  Comte  de  Montsorel. 

RAOUL 

For  three  days  I  have  been  in  a  dream !    You,  my  mother ! 
you,  sir — 

THE  DUKE 
Your  father — yes! 


152  VAUTRIN 

EAOUL 
Among  the  very  people  who  asked  me  to  name  my  family — 

VAUTRIN 
Your  family  has  been  found. 

RAOUL 
And — are  you  still  to  have  a  place  in  my  life  ? 

VAUTRIN  (to  the  Duchesse  de  Montsorel) 
What  shall  I  say  to  you ?    (To  Raoul)   Remember,  my  lord 
marquis,   that   I   have,   in  advance,   absolved  you  from   all 
charge  of  ingratitude.     (To  the  duchess)    The  child  will  for- 
get me ;  will  the  mother  also  ? 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL 
Never. 

THE  DUKE 

But  what  are  the  misfortunes  that  plunged  you  into  so  dark 
an  abyss? 

VAUTRIN 
Can  any  one  explain  misfortune  ? 

THE  DUCHESSE  DE  MONTSOREL 
Dear  husband,  is  it  not  in  your  power  to  obtain  his  pardon  ? 

THE  DUKE 
The  sentences  under  which  he  has  served  are  irreversible. 

VAUTRIN 

That  word  reconciles  me  to  you,  it  is  a  statesman's  word. 
Your  grace  should  explain  that  transportation  is  the  last 
expedient  to  which  you  can  resort  in  overcoming  us. 

RAOUL 
Monsieur — 


Copyright,  1902,  byj.  D.  A. 


Vautrin  and  RaouL 


VAUTRIN  153 

VAUTRIN 
You  are  wrong ;  I  am  not  even  monsieur  at  present. 

INEZ 

I  think  I  understand  that  you  are  an  outlaw,  that  my  friend 
owes  you  a  vast  debt,  and  cannot  discharge  it.  Beyond  the  sea, 
I  have  extensive  lands,  which  require  a  man's  energy  for  their 
right  administration ;  you  shall  go  and  exercise  there  your  tal- 
ents, and  become — 

VAUTRIN 

Rich,  under  a  new  name  ?  Child,  can  you  not  realize  that 
in  this  world  there  are  pitiless  necessities?  Yes,  I  could 
acquire  a  fortune,  but  who  will  give  me  the  opportunity  ?  (To 
the  duke)  The  king  could  at  your  grace's  intercession  grant 
me  a  pardon,  but  who  then  would  take  my  hand  in  his  ? 

BAOUL 
I  would  1 

VAUTRIN 

Ah !  It  was  this  I  waited  for  before  taking  leave.  You  now 
have  a  mother.  Farewell! 


SCENE  SEVENTEENTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,,  A  POLICE  OFFICER,  GUARDS  AND  SER- 
VANTS. 

(The  window  casements  are  flung  open;  and  an  officer  enters; 
at  the  back  of  the  stage  are  gendarmes.) 

THE  OFFICER  (to  the  duke) 

In  the  name  of  the  king,  of  the  law,  I  arrest  Jacques  Collin, 
convicted  of  having  broken — (All  persons  present  fling  them- 


154  VAUTRIN 

selves  between  the  armed  force  and  Jacques,  in  order  to  give 
him  opportunity  for  escaping.) 

THE  DUKE 
Gentlemen,  I  take  upon  myself— 

VAUTRIN 

In  your  grace's  house  the  justice  of  the  king  must  have  free 
course.  The  matter  lies  between  these  gentlemen  and  me. 
(To  the  officer)  I  will  follow  you.  (To  the  duchess)  It  was 
Joseph  who  brought  the  police ;  he  is  one  of  us ;  discharge  him. 

EAOUL 
Are  we  separated  forever? 

VAUTRIN 

You  will  marry  very  shortly.  Within  a  year,  on  a  day  of 
christening,  scan  carefully  the  faces  of  the  poor  at  the  church 
door ;  one  will  be  there  who  wishes  to  be  certain  of  your  happi- 
ness. Till  then,  adieu.  (To  the  officer)  It  is  time  for  us  to  be 
moving. 

Final  Curtain. 


THE  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 


A  COMEDY  IN  A   PROLOGUE  AND  FIVE  ACTS 


First  Presented  at  the  Theatre  de  TOdeon,  Parts, 
March  19,  1842. 


(155) 


AUTHOR'S  PREFACE 

Had  the  author  of  the  following  play  written  it  merely  for 
the  purpose  of  winning  for  it  the  universal  praise  which  the 
journals  have  lavished  upon  his  romances,  and  which  perhaps 
transcended  their  merits,  The  Resources  of  Quinola  would 
still  have  heen  an  excellent  literary  speculation;  but,  when 
he  sees  himself  the  object  of  so  much  praise  and  so  much  con- 
demnation, he  has  come  to  the  conclusion  that  it  is  much  more 
difficult  to  make  successfully  a  first  venture  on  the  stage  than 
in  the  field  of  mere  literature,  and  he  has  armed  himself, 
accordingly,  with  courage,  both  for  the  present  and  for  the 
future. 

The  day  will  come  when  this  piece  will  be  employed  by 
critics  as  a  battering  ram  to  demolish  some  piece  at  its  first 
representation,  just  as  they  have  employed  all  his  novels, 
and  even  his  play  entitled  Vautrin,  to  demolish  The  Resources 
of  Quinola. 

However  tranquil  may  be  his  mood  of  resignation,  the 
author  cannot  refrain  from  making  here  two  suggestive 
observations. 

Not  one  among  fifty  feuilleton  writers  has  failed  to  treat 
as  a  fable,  invented  by  the  author,  the  historic  fact  upon 
which  is  founded  the  present  play. 

Long  before  M.  Arago  mentioned  this  incident  in  his  his- 
tory of  steam,  published  in  the  Annuaire  du  Bureau  des  Lon- 
gitudes, the  author,  to  whom  the  incident  was  known,  had 
guessed  in  imagination  the  great  drama  that  must  have  led 

(157) 


158  AUTHOR'S  PREFACE 

up  to  that  final  act  of  despair,  the  catastrophe  which  neces- 
sarily ended  the  career  of  the  unknown  inventor,  who,  in  the 
middle  of  the  sixteenth  century,  built  a  ship  that  moved  by 
steam  in  the  harbor  of  Barcelona,  and  then  scuttled  it  with 
his  own  hands  in  the  presence  of  two  hundred  thousand  spec- 
tators. 

This  observation  is  sufficient  answer  to  the  derision  which 
has  been  flung  upon  what  was  supposed  to  be  the  author's 
hypothesis  as  to  the  invention  of  steam  locomotion  before  the 
time  of  the  Marquis  of  Worcester,  Salomon  de  Caus  and 
Papin. 

The  second  observation  relates  to  the  strange  manner  in 
which  almost  all  the  critics  have  mistaken  the  character  of 
Lavradi,  one  of  the  personages  in  this  comedy,  which  they 
have  stigmatized  as  a  hideous  creation.  Any  one  who  reads 
the  piece,  of  which  no  critic  has  given  an  exact  analysis,  will 
see  that  Lavradi,  sentenced  to  be  transported  for  ten  years 
to  the  presides,  comes  to  ask  pardon  of  the  king.  Every  one 
knows  how  freely  the  severest  penalties  were  in  the  sixteenth 
century  measured  out  for  the  lightest  offences,  and  how  warmly 
valets  in  a  predicament  such  as  Quinola's,  were  welcomed  by 
the  spectators  in  the  antique  theatres. 

Many  volumes  might  be  filled  with  the  laments  of  feuille- 
tonists, who  for  nearly  twenty  years  have  called  for  comedies 
in  the  Italian,  Spanish  or  English  style.  An  attempt  has 
been  made  to  produce  one,  and  the  critics  would  rather  eat 
their  own  words  than  miss  the  opportunity  of  choking  off  the 
man  who  has  been  bold  enough  to  venture  upon  a  pathway 
of  such  fertile  promise,  whose  very  antiquity  lends  to  it  in 
these  days  the  charm  of  novelty. 

Nor  must  we  forget  to  mention,  to  the  disgrace  of  our  age, 
the  howl  of  disapprobation  which  greeted  the  title  "Duke 


AUTHOR'S  PREFACE  159 

of  Neptunado,"  selected  by  Philip  II.  for  the  inventor,  a 
howl  in  which  educated  readers  will  refuse  to  join,  but  which 
was  so  overwhelming  at  the  presentation  of  the  piece  that 
after  its  first  utterance  the  actors  omitted  the  term  during 
the  remainder  of  the  evening.  This  howl  was  raised  by  an 
audience  of  spectators  who  read  in  the  newspapers  every  morn- 
ing the  title  of  the  Duke  of  Vittoria,  given  to  Espartero,  and 
who  must  have  heard  of  the  title  Prince  of  Paz,  given  to  the 
last  favorite  of  the  last  but  one  of  the  kings  of  Spain.  How 
could  such  ignorance  as  this  have  been  anticipated?  Who 
does  not  know  that  the  majority  of  Spanish  titles,  especially 
in  the  time  of  Charles  V.  and  Philip  II.,  refer  to  circum- 
stances under  which  they  were  originally  granted? 

Orendayes  assumed  the  title  of  La  Pes,  from  having  signed 
the  treaty  of  peace  in  1725. 

An  admiral  took  that  of  Transport-Real,  from  the  fact  that 
the  dauphin  sailed  with  him  to  Italy. 

Navarro  was  given  the  title  La  Vittoria  after  the  sea-fight 
off  Toulon,  though  the  issue  of  the  conflict  was  indecisive. 

These  examples,  and  as  many  others,  are  outdone  by  that 
of  the  famous  finance  minister,  a  parvenu  broker,  who  chose 
to  be  entitled  the  Marquis  Insignificant  (I'Ensenada). 

In  producing  a  work,  constructed  with  all  the  dramatic 
irregularity  of  the  early  French  and  Spanish  stage,  the 
author  has  made  an  experiment  which  had  been  called  for  by 
the  suffrages  of  more  than  one  "organ  of  public  opinion," 
as  well  as  of  all  the  "first-nighters"  of  Paris.  He  wished  to 
meet  the  genuine  public  and  to  have  his  piece  represented  in  a 
house  filled  with  a  paying  audience.  The  unsatisfactory 
result  of  this  ordeal  was  so  plainly  pointed  out  by  the  whole 
press,  that  the  indispensability  of  claqueurs  has  been  now  for- 
ever established. 


160  AUTHOR'S  PREFACE 

The  author  had  been  confronted  by  the  following  dilemma, 
as  stated  by  those  experienced  in  such  matters.  If  he  intro- 
duced into  the  theatre  twelve  hundred  "dead  heads,"  the  suc- 
cess secured  by  their  applause  would  undoubtedly  be  ques- 
tioned. If  twelve  hundred  paying  spectators  were  present, 
the  success  of  the  piece  was  almost  out  of  the  question.  The 
author  chose  to  run  the  risk  of  the  latter  alternative.  Such 
is  the  history  of  this  first  representation,  where  so  many  peo- 
ple appeared  to  be  made  so  uncomfortable  by  their  elevation 
to  the  dignity  of  independent  judges. 

The  author  intends  therefore  to  return  to  the  beaten  track, 
base  and  ignoble  though  it  be,  which  prejudice  has  laid  out  as 
the  only  avenue  to  dramatic  success;  but  it  may  not  be  un- 
profitable to  state  here,  that  the  first  representation  of  The 
Resources  of  Quinola  actually  redounded  to  the  advantage  of 
the  claqueurs,  the  only  persons  who  enjoyed  any  triumph,  in 
an  evening  entertainment  from  which  their  presence  was 
debarred ! 

Some  idea  of  the  criticism  uttered  on  this  comedy  may  be 
gained  from  the  fact  that  out  of  the  fifty  newspapers,  all  of 
which  for  the  last  twenty  years  have  uttered  over  the  unsuc- 
cessful playwright  the  hackneyed  phrase,  "the  play  is  the 
work  of  a  clever  man  who  will  some  day  take  his  revenge," 
not  one  employed  it  in  speaking  of  The  Resources  of  Quinola, 
which  they  were  unanimous  in  consigning  to  oblivion.  This 
result  has  settled  the  ambition  of  the  author. 

Certain  persons,  whose  good  auguries  the  author  had  done 
nothing  to  call  forth,  encouraged  from  the  outset  this  dramatic 
venture,  and  thus  showed  themselves  less  critical  than  unkind ; 
but  the  author  counts  such  miscalculations  as  blessings  in 
disguise,  for  the  loss  of  false  friends  is  the  best  school  of 


AUTHOR'S  PREFACE  181 

experience.  Nor  is  it  less  a  pleasure  than  a  duty  thus  pub- 
licly to  thank  the  friends,  like  M.  Leon  Gozlan,  who  have 
remained  faithful,  towards  whom  the  author  has  contracted 
a  debt  of  gratitude;  like  M.  Victor  Hugo,  who  protested,  so 
to  speak,  against  the  public  verdict  at  the  first  representa- 
tion, by  returning  to  witness  the  second;  like  M.  de  Lamar- 
tine  and  Madame  de  Girardin,  who  stuck  to  their  first  opin- 
ion, in  spite  of  the  general  public  reprobation  of  the  piece. 
The  approval  of  such  persons  as  these  would  be  consoling  in 
any  disaster. 

LIGNY,  2  April,  1842. 


PERSONS  OF  THE  PROLOGUE 

PHILIP  II.,  King  of  Spain. 

CARDINAL  CIENFUEGOS,  Grand  Inquisitor. 

THE  CAPTAIN  OF  THE  GUARDS. 

THE  DUKE  OF  OLMEDO. 

THE  DUKE  OF  LERMA. 

ALFONSO  FONTANARES. 

LAVRADI,  known  as  Quinola. 

A  HALBERDIER. 

AN  ALCALDE  OF  THE  PALACE. 

A  FAMILIAR  OF  THE  INQUISITION. 

THE  QUEEN  OF  SPAIN. 

THE  MARCHIONESS  OF  MONDEJAR. 


(163) 


PERSONS  OF  THE  PLAY 

DON  FREGOSE,  Viceroy  of  Catalonia. 

GRAND  INQUISITOR. 

COUNT  SARPI,  Secretary  to  the  Viceroy. 

DON  EAMON,  a  savant. 

AVALOROS,  a  banker. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS,  a  Lombard. 

LOTHUNDIAZ,.  a  burgess. 

ALFONSO  FO*TTANARES,  an  inventor. 

LAVRADL,  known  as  Quinola,  servant  to  Fontanares. 

MONIPODIO,  i  retired  bandit. 

COPPOLUS,  a  metal  merchant. 

CARPANO,  a  locksmith. 

ESTEBANJ 
GlRONE     J 

THE  HOST  OP  THE  "GOLDEN  SUN/' 
A  BAILIFF. 
AN  ALCALDE. 

FAUSTINE  BRANCADORI. 

MARIE  LOTHUNDIAZ,  daughter  to  Lothundiaz. 
DONA  LOPEZ,  duenna  to  Marie  Lothundiaz. 
PAQUITA,  maid  to  Faustine. 

SCENE  :  Spain — Valladolid  and  Barcelona.  TIME  :  1588-89. 


(164) 


THE  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 


PROLOGUE. 
SCENE  FIRST. 

(The  scene  is  laid  at  Valladolid,  in  the  palace  of  the  King 
of  Spain.  The  stage  represents  the  gallery  which  leads  to 
the  chapel.  The  entrance  to  the  chapel  is  on  the  spectators' 
left,  that  to  the  royal  apartment  on  the  right.  The  principal 
entrance  is  in  the  centre.  On  each  side  of  the  principal  door 
stand  two  halberdiers.  At  the  rise  of  the  curtain  the  Captain 
of  the  Guards  and  two  lords  are  on  the  stage.  An  alcalde  of 
the  palace  stands  in  the  centre  of  the  gallery.  Several  cour- 
tiers are  walking  up  and  down  in  the  hall  that  leads  to  the 
gallery. ) 

THE  CAPTAIN  OF  THE  GUARDS,  QUINOLA   (wrapped  in  his 
mantle)  AND  A  HALBERDIER. 

THE  HALBERDIER  (barring  the  way  to  Quinola) 
No  one  passes  this  way,  unless  he  has  the  right  to  do  so. 
Who  are  you  ? 

QUINOLA  (lifting  up  the  halberd) 
An  ambassador.     (All  look  at  him.) 

HALBERDIER 
From  what  state? 

QUINOLA   (passing  in) 
From  what  state?    From  a  state  of  misery. 

(165) 


166  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

THE  CAPTAIN  OF  THE  GUARDS 

Go  and  bring  the  major-domo  of  the  palace,  that  he  may 
render  to  this  ambassador  the  honors  that  are  due  him.  (To 
the  halberdier)  Three  days'  imprisonment. 

QUINOLA  (to  the  captain) 

And  so  this  is  the  way  you  respect  people's  rights !  Listen, 
my  lord,  you  are  very  high,  and  I  am  very  low,  but  a  couple 
of  words  will  place  us  on  an  equal  footing. 

THE  CAPTAIN 
You  are  a  very  droll  rascal. 

QUINOLA  (talcing  him  aside) 
Are  not  you  the  cousin  of  the  Marchioness  of  Mondejar? 

THE  CAPTAIN 
What  if  lam? 

QUINOLA 

Although  she  is  high  in  favor,  she  is  on  the  brink  of  an 
abyss,  into  which  she  may  fall  and  lose  her  head  in  falling. 

THE  CAPTAIN 

All  people  of  your  class  trump  up  these  stories ! — Listen, 
you  are  the  twenty-second  person,  and  we  have  only  reached 
the  tenth  of  the  month,  who  has  made  an  attempt  to  be  intro- 
duced to  the  favorite,  for  the  purpose  of  squeezing  a  few 
pistoles  from  her.  Take  yourself  off  or  else — 

QUINOLA 

My  lord,  it  is  better  to  be  misled  by  twenty-two  poor 
devils,  twenty-two  times,  than  once  to  miss  the  opportunity 
of  heeding  him  who  is  sent  by  your  good  angel;  and  you  see, 
I  may  also  say  (he  opens  his  mantle)  I  am  wearing  her  wings 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  167 

THE  CAPTAIN 

Let  us  end  this,  and  tell  me  what  proof  of  your  errand 
you  can  give  ? 

QUINOLA   (handing  him  a  letter) 

This  little  message  you  must  return  to  me  so  that  the  secret 
remains  in  our  possession,  and  hang  me  if  you  do  not  see  the 
marchioness  swoon  when  she  reads  it.  Believe  moreover  that 
I  profess,  in  common  with  an  immense  majority  of  Spaniards, 
a  deep-seated  aversion  for — the  gallows. 

THE  CAPTAIN 

And  suppose  that  some  ambitious  woman  has  paid  for  your 
life,  that  she  give  it  in  exchange  for  another's? 

QUINOLA 

Should  I  be  in  rags?  My  life  is  as  good  as  Caesar's.  Look 
here,  my  lord.  (He  unseals  the  letter,  smells  it,  folds  it  up 
again,  and  gives  it  to  him}  Are  you  satisfied? 

THE  CAPTAIN  (aside) 

I  have  yet  time.  (To  Quinola)  Eemain  where  you  are,  I 
am  going  to  her. 


SCENE  SECOND, 

QUINOLA    (alone,  in  the  front  of  the  stage,  looking  at  the 

departing  captain) 

That  is  all  right !  0  my  dear  master,  if  the  torture  cham- 
ber has  not  broken  your  bones,  you  are  likely  to  get  out  of  the 
cells  of  the  holy — the  thrice  holy  Inquisition — saved  by  your 
poor  cur  Quinola !  Poor  ? — why  should  I  say  poor  ?  My 
master  once  free,  we  will  end  by  cashing  our  hopes.  To  live 
at  Valladolid  for  six  months  without  money,  and  without 
being  nabbed  by  the  alguazils,  argues  the  possession  of  cer- 


168  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

tain  small  talents,  which,  if  applied  to — other  ends,  might 
bring  a  man  to — something  different  in  fact!  If  we  knew 
where  we  were  going  no  one  would  stir  a  step — I  purpose 
speaking  to  the  king,  I,  Quinola.  God  of  the  rapscallions, 
give  me  the  eloquence — of — a  pretty  woman,  of  the  Mar- 
chioness of  Monde  jar — 


SCENE  THIRD. 
QUINOLA  AND  THE  CAPTAIN. 

THE  CAPTAIN  (to  Quinola} 

Here  are  fifty  doubloons  which  the  marchioness  sends  you, 
that  you  may  be  enabled  to  make  your  appearance  here  in 
decent  guise. 

QUINOLA  (pouring  the  gold  from  one  hand  into  the  other) 
Ah,  this  burst  of  sunshine  has  been  long  expected !  I  will 
return,  my  lord,  radiant  as  that  amorous  valet,  whose  name 
I  have  assumed;  Quinola  at  your  service,  Quinola  soon  to  be 
lord  of  wide  domains,  where  I  shall  administer  justice,  from 
the  time — (aside)  I  cease  to  fear  its  ministers. 


SCENE  FOURTH. 
THE  COURTIERS  AND  THE  CAPTAIN. 

THE  CAPTAIN  (alone  at  the  front  of  the  stage) 
What  secret  has  this  miserable  creature  discovered?  My 
cousin  almost  fainted  away.  She  told  me  that  it  concerned 
all  my  friends.  The  king  must  have  something  to  do  in  the 
matter.  (To  a  lord)  Duke  of  Lerma,  is  there  anything  new 
in  Valladolid? 


RESOUKCES  OF  QUINOLA  169 

THE  DUKE  OF  LERMA   (whispering) 

It  is  said  that  the  Duke  of  Olmedo  was  murdered  this 
morning,  at  three  o'clock,  just  before  dawn.  It  happened  a 
few  paces  from  the  Mondejar  palace. 

THE  CAPTAIN 

It  is  quite  likely  he  should  he  assassinated  for  prejudicing 
the  king's  mind  against  my  cousin;  the  king,  like  all  great 
statesmen,  esteems  as  true  everything  that  appears  to  be 
probable. 

THE  DUKE 

It  is  said  that  enmity  between  the  duke  and  the  marchion- 
ess was  only  a  pretence,  and  that  the  assassin  is  not  to  be 
prosecuted. 

THE  CAPTAIN 

Duke,  this  ought  not  to  be  repeated  unless  it  can  be  proved, 
and  even  then  could  not  be  written  excepting  with  a  sword 
dipped  in  my  blood. 

THE  DUKE 
You  asked  me  the  news.     (The  duke  retires.) 


SCENE  FIFTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  THE  MARCHIONESS  OF  MONDEJAR. 

THE  CAPTAIN 

Ah!  here  is  my  cousin!  (To  the  marchioness)  Dear  mar- 
chioness, you  are  still  very  much  agitated.  In  the  name  of 
our  common"  salvation,  control  yourself;  you  will  attract 
attention. 

THE  MARCHIONESS 

Has  that  man  come  back  ? 


170  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

THE  CAPTAIN 

Now,  how  can  a  man  of  such  base  condition  as  he  is  throw 
you  into  such  terror? 

THE  MARCHIONESS 

He  holds  my  life  in  his  hands ;  more  than  my  life,  indeed ; 
for  he  holds  in  his  power  the  life  also  of  another,  who,  in 
spite  of  the  most  scrupulous  precautions,  cannot  avoid  ex- 
citing the  jealousy — 

THE  CAPTAIN 

Of  the  king ! — Did  he  cause  the  assassination  of  the  Duke 
of  Olmedo,  as  is  rumored? 

THE  MARCHIONESS 

Alas!  I  do  not  know  what  to  think. — Here  I  am  alone, 
helpless — and  perhaps  soon  to  be  abandoned. 

THE  CAPTAIN 

You  may  rely  upon  me — I  shall  constantly  be  in  the  midst 
of  all  our  enemies,  like  a  hunter  on  the  watch. 


SCENE  SIXTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  QUINOLA. 

QUINOLA 

I  have  only  thirty  doubloons  left,  but  I  have  had  the  worth 
of  sixty. — Ah !  what  a  lovely  scent !  The  marchioness  can  now 
talk  to  me  without  fear. 

THE  MARCHIONESS  (pointing  out  Quinola) 
Is  this  our  man  ? 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  171 

THE  CAPTAIN 
Yes. 

THE  MARCHIONESS 

Keep  watch,  my  cousin,  so  that  I  may  be  able  to  talk  with- 
out being  overheard.  (To  Quinola)  Who  are  you,  my  friend  ? 

QUINOLA  (aside) 

Her  friend !  As  soon  as  you  have  a  woman's  secret,  you 
are  her  friend.  (Aloud)  Madame,  I  am  a  man  superior  to 
all  considerations  and  all  circumstances. 

THE  MARCHIONESS 
You  have  reached  a  pretty  good  height,  at  that  rate. 

QUINOLA 
Is  that  a  threat  or  a  warning? 

THE  MARCHIONESS 
Sir,  you  are  very  impertinent. 

QUINOLA 

Do  not  mistake  farsightedness  for  impertinence.  You 
must  study  me,  before  coming  to  a  decision.  I  am  going  to 
describe  my  character  to  you;  my  real  name  is  Lavradi.  At 
this  moment  Lavradi  ought  to  be  serving  a  ten  years*  sen- 
tence in  Africa,  at  the  presides,  owing  to  an  error  of  the 
alcaldes  of  Barcelona.  Quinola  is  the  conscience,  white  as 
your  fair  hands,  of  Lavradi.  Quinola  does  not  know  Lavradi. 
Does  the  soul  know  the  body?  You  may  unite  the  soul,, 
Quinola,  to  the  body,  Lavradi,  all  the  more  easily  because  this 
morning  Quinola  was  at  the  postern  of  your  garden,  with  the 
friends  of  the  dawn  who  stopped  the  Duke  of  Olmedo— 

THE  MARCHIONESS 
What  has  happened  to  him  ? 


172  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

QUINOLA 

Lavradi  would  take  advantage  of  this  moment,  which  is 
full  of  promise,  to  ask  a  pardon ;  but  Quinola  is  a  gentleman. 

THE  MARCHIONESS 
You  are  taken  up  too  much  with  yourself — 

QUINOLA 

And  not  sufficiently  with  him — that  is  just.  The  duke 
took  us  for  foul  assassins;  we  were  simply  asking  him.  at  a 
rather  too  advantageous  hour,  to  make  us  a  loan,  pledged  by 
our  rapiers  as  collateral.  The  famous  Ma j  oral,  who  was  in 
command  of  us,  being  close  pressed  by  the  duke,  was  forced 
to  disable  him  by  a  little  thrust,  of  which  he  knows  the  secret. 

THE  MARCHIONESS 
Oh!  My  God!— 

QUINOLA 
Happiness  is  cheap  at  such  a  cost,  madame. 

THE  MARCHIONESS  (aside) 
Hush !  he  knows  my  secret. 

QUINOLA 

When  we  saw  that  the  duke  had  not  a  maravedi  about  him, 
we  left  him  where  he  was.  As  I  was  the  least  culpable  of  all 
the  gang,  I  was  charged  to  take  him  home;  in  adjusting  his 
pockets,  which  had  been  turned  inside  out,  I  found  the  letter 
which  he  had  written  to  you,  and,  learning  your  position  at 
the  court,  I  understood — 

THE  MARCHIONESS 
That  your  fortune  was  made? 

QUINOLA 
Not  at  all — that  my  life  was  in  danger. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  173 

THE  MARCHIONESS 
Indeed  ? 

QUINOLA 

To  whom  are  you  speaking?     Quinola  or  Lavradi? 

THE  MARCHIONESS 

Lavradi  shall  have  his  pardon.  What  does  Quinola  desire  ? 
To  enter  my  service? 

QUINOLA 

Foundling  children  are  of  gentle  birth;  Quinola  will  de- 
liver your  letter  to  you  without  asking  a  maravedi,  without 
obliging  you  to  do  anything  unworthy  of  you,  and  he  ex- 
pects that  you  will  refrain  from  desiring  the  services  of  a 
poor  devil  who  carries  under  his  wallet  the  heart  of  the  Cid. 

THE  MARCHIONESS 
How  dear  you  are  going  to  cost  me,  fellow ! 

QUINOLA 
You  said  to  me  just  now,  "my  friend." 

THE  MARCHIONESS 
Were  you  not  my  enemy? 

QUINOLA 

On  account  of  that  word  I  trust  you,  madame,  and  intend 
to  tell  you  everything.  But  here — do  not  laugh — you  must 
promise — I  wish — 

THE  MARCHIONESS 
You  wish? 

QUINOLA 

I  wish — to  speak  to  the  king — at  the  moment  when  he 
passes  on  his  way  to  the  chapel;  I  desire  you  to  lend  favor 
to  my  request. 


174  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

THE  MARCHIONESS 
But  what  are  you  going  to  ask  him  ? 

QUINOLA 

The  most  simple  thing  in  the  world — an  audience  for  my 
master. 

THE  MARCHIONESS 

Explain  yourself,  for  time  presses. 

QUINOLA 

Madame,  I  am  the  servant  of  a  philosopher;  and  if  the 
mark  of  genius  is  poverty,  we  have  a  great  deal  too  much 
genius,  madame. 

THE  MARCHIONESS 
To  the  point. 

QUINOLA 

Senor  Alfonso  Fontanares  has  come  here  from  Catalonia 
to  offer  the  king  our  master  the  sceptre  of  the  sea.  At  Bar- 
celona he  was  taken  for  a  madman;  here  he  is  considered  a 
sorcerer.  When  it  becomes  known  what  he  proposes,  he  is 
scoffed  at  in  the  antechambers.  One  wishes  to  protest  for 
the  sake  of  ruining  him;  another,  a  philosopher,  throws  a 
doubt  on  the  existence  of  our  secret,  with  the  view  of  filching 
it;  others  again  make  him  a  business  proposition — capi- 
talists who  wish  to  entangle  him  in  their  meshes.  As  things 
go  at  present  we  do  not  know  how  they  will  turn  out.  No 
one  certainly  can  deny  the  forces  of  mechanics  and  geometry, 
but  the  finest  theorems  have  very  little  bodily  nourishment 
in  them,  and  the  smallest  of  ragouts  is  better  for  the 
stomach ;  but,  really,  science  is  not  to  blame  for  that.  Dur- 
ing the  past  winter  my  master  and  myself  warmed  ourselves 
over  our  projects,  and  chewed  the  cud  of  our  illusions.  .  . 
Well,  madame,  he  is  now  in  prison,  for  he  has  been  accused 
of  being  on  too  friendly  terms  with  the  devil;  and,  unfor- 
tunately, the  Holy  Office  is  right,  this  time,  for  we  have  con- 
stantly seen  him  at  the  bottom  of  our  purse.  And  now, 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  175 

madame,  I  implore  you,  inspire  the  king  with  curiosity  to 
see  a  man  who  will  give  him  a  dominion  as  extended  as  that 
which  Columbus  gave  to  Spain. 

THE  MARCHIONESS 

But  since  Columbus  gave  a  new  world  to  Spain,  new  worlds 
are  being  offered  to  us  once  in  every  fortnight ! 

QUINOLA 

Ah !  madame,  every  man  of  genius  has  one  of  his  own  to 
offer.  By  heavens,  it  is  so  rare  that  a  man  can  make  honestly 
a  fortune  both  for  himself  and  the  state  that  the  phenomenon 
deserves  to  be  favored. 

THE  MARCHIONESS 
But  what  is  the  project  about  ? 

QUINOLA 

I  must  once  more  beg  you  not  to  laugh,  madame.  His  plan 
is  to  make  ships  travel  without  sail  or  oar,  against  the  wind, 
by  means  of  a  pot  filled  with  water,  which  is  kept  boiling. 

THE  MARCHIONESS 

What  an  idea !  Where  do  you  come  from  ?  What  do  you 
mean?  Are  you  dreaming? 

QUINOLA 

That  is  just  what  they  all  say !  Ah,  common  heard,  ye  are 
so  constituted  that  the  man  of  genius,  who  is  right  ten  years 
before  everybody  else,  passes  for  a  madman  for  twenty-five 
years.  I  am  the  only  one  who  believes  in  this  man,  and  it  is 
on  this  account  I  love  him;  to  understand  another  is  to  be 
bis  equal. 

THE  MARCHIONESS 
And  you  want  me  to  repeat  this  nonsense  to  the  king  ? 


176  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

QUINOLA 

Madame,  you  are  the  only  person  in  the  whole  of  Spain  to 
whom  the  king  will  not  say,  "Be  silent." 

THE  MARCHIONESS 

You  do  not  know  the  king,  and  I  do.  (Aside)  I  must  get 
back  my  letter.  (Aloud)  There  is  one  recent  circumstance 
whose  occurrence  seems  favorable  to  your  master ;  news  comes 
to  the  king  that  the  Armada  has  been  lost;  wait  for  him  on 
his  way  through  to  chapel  and  address  him.  (Exit.) 


SCENE  SEVENTH. 
THE  CAPTAIN  OF  THE  GUARDS,  THE  COURTIERS  AND  QUINOLA. 

QUINOLA  (in  the  front  of  the  stage) 

It  is  not  sufficient  to  possess  genius  and  to  employ  it,  for 
there  are  plenty  of  people  who  make  a  false  show  to  have 
it  and  meet  with  excellent  success.  There  is  need  also  of 
opportunity  and  favoring  circumstances;  a  picked  up  letter, 
which  puts  a  favorite  in  danger,  in  order  to  obtain  an 
interceding  tongue,  and  the  loss  of  the  mightiest  of  flotillas, 
in  order  to  open  the  ears  of  a  prince.  Chance  is  an  infamous 
wretch!  And  now,  in  the  duel  of  Fontanares  with  his  cen- 
tury, the  hour  has  come  for  his  poor  second  to  appear.  (Bells 
are  heard;  guard  is  mounted.)  Is  yon  sound  an  omen  of 
success?  (To  the  Captain  of  the  Guards)  How  ought  the 
king  to  be  spoken  to  ? 

THE  CAPTAIN 

Step  forward,  bow  your  knee,  and  say:  "Sire" — and  pray 
God  to  guide  your  tongue  aright — (The  royal  procession 
appears). 

QUINOLA 
I  shall  have  no  trouble  in  falling  upon  my  knees;  they 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  177 

are  giving  way  already ;   for  it  is  not  only  the  fate  of  a  man, 
but  of  a  world,  that  is  at  stake. 

A  PAGE. 
The  queen ! 

A  PAGE. 
The  king  I 

(Tableau.) 


'SCENE  EIGHTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  THE  KING,  THE  QUEEN,  THE  MAR- 
CHIONESS OF  MONDEJAR,  THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR 

AND  THE  WHOLE  COURT. 

PHILIP  II. 

Gentlemen,  we  are  about  to  pray  God  and  honor  Him  who 
has  dealt  a  deadly  blow  to  Spain.  England  has  escaped  us, 
the  Armada  is  lost,  and  we  desire  no  more  to  talk  of  that 
flotilla.  Admiral  (he  turns  to  the  admiral),  you  were  not 
sent  to  give  battle  to  the  storms. 

QUINOLA 
Sire!     (He  falls  on  one  Jcnee.) 

PHILIP  II. 
Who  are  you  ? 

QUINOLA 

The  most  insignificant  and  the  most  devoted  of  your  sub- 
jects; the  servant  of  a  man  who  pines  in  the  prisons  of  the 
Holy  Office,  accused  of  magic,  because  he  desires  to  give  to 
your  Majesty  the  power  of  escaping  from  similar  disasters — 

PHILIP  II. 

If  you  are  merely  a  servant,  rise  to  your  feet.  Only 
grandees  are  wont  to  kneel  here,  in  presence  of  the  king. 


178  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

QUINOLA 

My  master,  then,  shall  kneel  at  your  feei 

PHILIP  II. 

Explain  yourself  in  brief;  the  moments  of  the  king's  whole 
life  are  not  so  numerous  as  are  his  subjects. 

QUINOLA 

You  must  have,  then,  but  one  hour  for  each  of  your  empires. 
My  master,  Senor  Alfonso  Fontanares,  is  in  the  prisons  of 
the  Holy  Office— 

PHILIP  II.  (to  the  Grand  Inquisitor) 
Father  (the  Grand,  Inquisitor  approaches),  what  can  you 
tell  us  of  a  certain  Alfonso  Fontanares  ? 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR 

He  is  a  pupil  of  Galileo.  He  professes  the  heretical  doc- 
trine of  his  master  and  boasts  the  power  to  do  wonders  while 
he  refuses  to  explain  the  means.  He  is  accused  of  being  rather 
a  Moor  than  a  Spaniard. 

QUINOLA  (aside) 

That  sallow  face  is  going  to  spoil  all ! — (To  the  King)  Sire, 
my  master  knows  no  sorcery,  excepting  so  far  as  he  is  madly 
in  love,  first  with  the  glory  of  your  Majesty,  next  with  a  maid 
of  Barcelona,  heiress  of  Lothundiaz,  the  richest  burgess  of  the 
town.  As  he  picked  up  more  science  than  wealth  in  studying 
natural  science  in  Italy,  the  poor  youth  has  failed  in  his 
attempt  to  marry  this  maid. — And  notice,  sire,  how  great  men 
are  calumniated ;  in  his  despair  he  made  a  pilgrimage  to  the 
Yirgen  del  Pilar,  to  beg  her  assistance,  because  Marie  was  the 
name  of  the  lady  he  loved.  On  leaving  the  church,  he  sat 
down  wearied  under  a  tree  and  fell  asleep.  In  his  dreams  the 
Virgin  appeared  to  him  and  communicated  to  him  an  inven- 
tion by  which  he  could  navigate  ships  without  sails,  without 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  179 

oars,  against  wind  and  tide.  He  approached  you;  sire;  but 
between  the  sun  and  him  a  cloud  intervened,  and  after  a 
deadly  conflict  with  the  cloud,  he  is  now  suffering  for  his  con- 
fidence in  the  Virgen  del  Pilar  and  in  his  king.  No  one  but 
his  servant  has  sufficient  courage  to  come  and  throw  at  your 
feet  the  news  that  there  exists  a  means  of  realizing  universal 
dominion. 

PHILIP  II. 
I  will  see  your  master  when  I  leave  the  chapel. 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR 
Surely,  the  king  will  not  expose  himself  to  such  peril? 

PHILIP  II. 
My  duty  is  to  inquire. 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR 

And  mine  is  to  make  men  respect  the  privileges  of  the 
Sacred  Office. 

PHILIP  II. 

I  know  them.  Obey  me  and  keep  silence.  I  know  that  I 
owe  you  a  hostage.  I  know  it — (He  looks  round)  Tell  me, 
where  is  the  Duke  of  Olmedo  ? 

QUINOLA  (aside) 
Aha! 

THE  MARCHIONESS  (aside) 
We  are  lost. 

THE  CAPTAIN  OF  THE  GUARDS 
Sire,  the  duke  is  not  yet — arrived — 

PHILIP  II. 

Who  has  given  him  leave  thus  boldly  to  forsake  the  duties 
of  his  office?  (Aside)  Some  one  is  deceiving  me.  (To  the 
Captain  of  the  Guards)  Tell  him,  if  he  comes,  that  the  king 


180  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

has  committed  him  as  a  prisoner  of  the  Holy  Office.  (To  the 
Grand  Inquisitor)     Issue  the  order. 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR 
Sire,  I  will  go  myself. 

THE  QUEEN 
And  what  if  the  duke  fails  to  come? 

PHILIP  II. 

In  that  case  he  must  be  dead.  (To  the  captain)  You  will 
take  his  place  in  the  execution  of  my  orders.  (He  enters  the 
chapel.) 

THE  MARCHIONESS   (to  Quinola) 

Kun  to  the  duke's  house,  tell  him  to  come  and  comport  him- 
self as  if  he  were  not  wounded  to  the  death.  The  report  will 
then  be  considered  mere  calumny — 

QUINOLA 

You  may  reckon  upon  me,  but  grant  us  your  protection. 
(Alone)  Great  heavens !  The  king  seemed  charmed  by  my 
little  fable  of  the  Virgen  del  Pilar ;  I  must  make  a  vow  to  her 
— but  what  shall  it  be  ? — we  will  see  after  we  have  succeeded. 

(Scene  curtain.) 


SCENE  NINTH. 
(A  cell  of  the  Inquisition.) 

FOXTANARES  (alone) 

I  understand  now  why  Columbus  desired  that  his  fetters 
should  be  placed  beside  him  in  his  coffin.    What  a  lesson  for 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  181 

discoverers !  A  great  discovery  is  a  revelation  of  truth.  'And 
truth  destroys  so  many  abuses  and  errors  that  all  those  who 
live  by  falsehood  rise  up  to  slay  the  truth;  they  begin  by 
assailing  the  man.  Let  inventors  then  have  patience!  I 
myself  desire  to  have  it.  Unfortunately,  my  patience  pro- 
ceeds from  my  love.  In  the  hope  of  obtaining  Marie,  I  dream 
of  glory  and  I  pursue  it. — I  saw  a  piece  of  straw  fly  up  above  a 
boiler.  All  men  have  had  the  same  experience  since  boilers 
and  straw  existed.  But  I  saw  there  a  force;  in  order  to  esti- 
mate its  violence,  I  put  a  lid  on  the  boiler;  the  lid  flew  off 
but  did  not  kill  me.  Archimedes  and  I  are  of  the  same  mind ! 
He  wished  for  a  lever  and  a  fulcrum  to  move  the  world;  I 
possess  this  lever  and  have  been  fool  enough  to  say  so;  since 
then — misfortunes  have  overwhelmed  me.  If  I  should  die, 
you,  man  of  genius  who  shall  discover  the  secret,  act  on  it, 
but  keep  silence.  The  light  which  we  discover,  men  take  from 
us,  only  to  set  on  fire  our  funeral  pile.  Galileo,  my  master, 
is  in  prison  for  having  said  that  the  earth  moves,  and  I  am 
here  for  attempting  to  apply  the  forces  of  the  earth.  No !  I 
am  here  because  I  rebel  against  the  cupidity  of  those  who 
desire  to  steal  my  secret ;  were  it  not  for  my  love  for  Marie,  I 
would  claim  my  liberty  to-night,  leaving  to  them  the  profit, 
keeping  to  myself  the  fame. — Ah !  What  rage  is  in  my  heart ! 
— But  rage  is  only  fit  for  children ;  let  me  be  calm  and  then  I 
shall  be  strong.  Would  that  I  might  have  news  of  the  only 
man  who  has  faith  in  me !  He  is  at  liberty,  he,  who  begged 
to  win  me  bread. — But  faith  is  only  found  among  the  poor, 
who  have  need  of  it — 


'SCENE  TENTH. 
THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR,  A  FAMILIAR  AND  FONTANARES. 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR 
Well,  my  son,  how  are  you?    You  were  speaking  of  faith, 


182  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

doubtless  you  have  made  some  sage  reflections  recently.  Come 
now,  spare  the  Holy  Office  a  resort  to  severity. 

FONTANAKES 

Father,  what  do  you  wish  me  to  say? 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR 

Before  setting  you  at  liberty,  the  Holy  Office  must  be  sure 
that  the  means  you  employ  are  natural— 

FONTANARES 

Father,  if  I  had  made  a  compact  with  the  Evil  One,  would 
he  have  let  me  languish  here  ? 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR 

Your  words  are  impious ;  the  devil  has  a  master  whose  exist- 
ence is  proved  by  our  burning  of  heretics. 

FONTANARES 

Have  you  ever  seen  a  ship  on  the  sea  ?  (The  Grand  Inquisi- 
tor assents.)  By  what  means  is  it  propelled? 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR 
The  wind  fills  the  sails. 

FONTANARES 

Did  the  devil  reveal  this  method  of  navigation  to  the  first 
sailor? 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR 
Do  you  know  who  he  was  ? 

FONTANARES 

He  was,  perhaps,  the  founder  of  some  long  forgotten  power 
that  ruled  the  sea — at  any  rate,  the  means  that  I  employ  are 
not  less  natural  than  his.  I  have  seen  a  certain  force  in  nature, 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  183 

a  force  controllable  by  man.  For  the  wind  is  God's  creature, 
and  man  is  not  its  master,  but  the  wind  propels  the  ships  of 
man,  while  my  force  is  in  the  ship  itself. 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR  (aside) 

This  man  may  prove  a  dangerous  fellow.  (Aloud)  And 
you  refuse  to  tell  us  what  it  is  ? 

FONTANARES 

I  will  tell  the  king,  in  presence  of  his  court ;  for,  after  that, 
no  one  will  be  able  to  rob  me  of  my  glory  and  the  fortune  that 
it  brings. 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR 

You  call  yourself  an  inventor,  and  yet  you  think  of  nothing 
but  fortune !  You  are  too  ambitious  to  be  a  man  of  genius. 

FONTANARES 

Father,  I  am  so  profoundly  disgusted  by  the  jealousy  of 
the  vulgar,  by  the  avarice  of  the  great,  by  the  behavior  of 
sham  philosophers,  that — but  for  my  love  for  Marie — I 
would  give  back  to  chance  that  which  chance  has  bestowed 
upon  me. 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR 

Chance? 

FONTANARES 

I  am  wrong.  I  would  give  back  to  God  the  thought 
which  God  has  sent  to  me. 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR 

God  did  not  send  it  to  you  that  it  might  be  hidden,  and 
we  have  the  right  to  force  you  to  divulge  it — (to  his  Familiar) 
Bid  them  prepare  the  rack. 

FONTANARES 
I  was  expecting  it. 


184  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

SCENE  ELEVENTH. 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR,  FONTANARES,  QUINOLA  AND  THE 
DUKE  OF  OLMEDO. 

QUINOLA 
It  isn't  a  very  healthy  thing,  this  torture. 

FONTANARES 

Quinola !  And  in  what  a  livery ! 

QUINOLA 
The  livery  of  success,  for  you  are  to  be  free. 

FONTANARES 
Free?  And  to  pass  from  hell  to  heaven  in  an  instant? 

THE  DUKE  OF  OLMEDO 
As  martyrs  do. 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR 
Sir,  do  you  dare  to  say  such  words  in  this  place ! 

THE  DUKE  OF  OLMEDO 

I  am  charged  by  the  king  to  take  out  of  your  custody  this 
man,  and  will  answer  for  him  to  the  Holy  Inquisition. 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR 
What  a  mistake ! 

QUINOLA 

Ah !  you  would  like  to  boil  him  in  your  cauldrons  of  oil ! 
Many  thanks!  His  cauldrons  are  going  to  carry  us  'round 
the  world — like  this.  (He  twirls  his  hat.) 

FONTANARES 
Embrace  me,  my  friend,  and  tell  me  how — 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  185 

THE  DUKE  OP  OLMEDO 
Say  not  a  word  here — 

QUINOLA 

Yes  (he  points  to  the  Inquisitor),  for  here  the  walls  have 
ears.  Come.  And  you  (speaking  to  the  duke)  take  courage. 
You  are  pale,  and  I  must  give  to  you  a  tinge  of  color ;  but 
I  know  how  to  do  it. 

(Scene  curtain.) 


SCENE  TWELFTH. 
(Palace  gallery  as  in  first  scene.) 


THE  DUKE  OF  OLMEDO 
We  have  come  just  in  time ! 

THE  DUKE  OF  LEBMA 
You  were  not  wounded  then? 

THE  DUKE  OF  OLMEDO 

Who  said  I  was?  Would  the  favorite  of  the  king  mitt  me? 
'And  should  I  be  here,  as  you  see  me,  if  I  were  dead?  {To 
Quinola)  Stand  close  and  hold  me  up — 

QUINOLA  (to  Fontanares) 
This  is  a  man  worthy  of  your  love — 

FONTANARES 

Who  would  not  envy  such  a  one?  Yet  how  seldom  is 
occasion  given  to  show  one's  love. 


186  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

QUINOLA 

Spare  us,  good  sir,  all  this  rigmarole  about  love,  in  the 
presence  of  the  king ;  for  the  king,  hark  you — 

A  PAGE 
The  king! 

FONTANARES 

Come  on,  and  let  all  our  thoughts  be  for  Marie ! 

QUINOLA  (noticing  that  the  Duke  of  Olmedo  is  fainting) 
How  are  you  ?     (He  puts  a  flask  to  his  nostrils.) 


SCENE  THIRTEENTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  THE  KING,  THE  QUEEN,  THE  CAPTAIN 
OF  THE  GUARDS,  THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR,  THE  MAR- 
CHIONESS OF  MONDEJAR,  THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  COUN- 

CIL  OF  CASTILE  AND  THE  WHOLE  COURT. 

PHILIP  II.  (to  the  Captain  of  the  Guards) 
Has  our  man  arrived? 

THE  CAPTAIN 

The  Duke  of  Olmedo,  whom    I  met  on  the   palace  steps, 
has  at  once  obeyed  the  commands  of  the  king. 

THE  DUKE  OF  OLMEDO  (falling  on  one  Jcnee) 
Will  the  king  deign  to  pardon  a  delay — unpardonable. 

PHILIP  II.  (raising  him  by  his  wounded  arm) 

I  was   told    you  were    dying — (he  glances   at    the    mar- 
chioness)—of  a  wound  received  in  a  nocturnal  attack. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  187j 

THE  DUKE  OF  OLMEDO 
Well,  you  see  me  here,  sire,  a  sufficient  answer. 

THE  MARCHIONESS  (aside) 
He  is  rouged ! 

PHILIP  II.  (to  the  duke) 
Where  is  your  prisoner? 

THE  DUKE  OF  OLMEDO  (pointing  to  Fontanares) 
Yonder  he  stands. 

FONTANARES  (kneeling} 

'And  ready,  to  the  great  glory  of  God,  to  do  wonders 
which  shall  add  splendor  to  the  reign  of  the  king,  my  master. 

PHILIP  II. 

Rise  up  and  speak  to  'me;  what  is  this  force  miraculous 
which  shall  give  to  Spain  the  empire  of  the  world? 

FONTANARES 

It  is  a  force  invincible,  sire.  It  is  steam ;  for,  when  water 
has  become  expanded  in  steam,  it  demands  a  much  more 
extensive  area  than  that  which  it  occupies  in  its  natural  form ; 
and  in  order  to  take  that  space  it  would  blow  up  mountains. 
By  my  invention  this  force  is  confined;  the  machine  is  pro- 
vided with  wheels,  which  beat  the  sea  and  propel  a  vessel  as 
swiftly  as  the  wind,  so  that  tempests  cannot  resist  its  course. 
Voyages  can  be  made  in  safety  and  so  swiftly  that  there  is 
no  limit  to  speed,  excepting  in  the  revolution  of  the  wheels. 
Human  life  is  lengthened  every  time  a  moment  is  econ- 
omized. Sire,  Christopher  Columbus  gave  to  you  a  world 
three  thousand  leagues  across  the  ocean;  I  will  bring  one  to 
you  at  the  port  of  Cadiz,  and  you  shall  claim,  with  the 
assistance  of  God?  the  dominion  of  the  sea. 


188  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOT  4, 

THE  QUEEN 
You  do  not  seem  to  be  astonished,  sire  ? 

PHILIP  II. 

Astonishment  is  involuntary  flattery,  and  kings  may  never 
flatter.  (To  Fontanares)  What  do  you  ask  of  me? 

FONTANAEES 

That  which  Columbus  asked,  a  ship  and  the  presence  of 
my  king  to  witness  the  experiment. 

PHILIP  II. 

You  shall  have  all — the  king,  the  realm  of  Spain — the 
whole  world.  They  tell  me  that  you  love  a  maid  of  Barcelona. 
I  am  about  to  cross  the  Pyrenees,  to  visit  my  possessions, 
Eoussillon  and  Perpignan;  you  shall  receive  your  vessel  at 
Barcelona. 

FONTANARES 

In  granting  me  this  vessel,  sire,  you  have  done  me  justice ; 
in  giving  it  to  me  at  Barcelona,  you  have  bestowed  a  favor 
which,  from  a  subject,  makes  me  your  slave. 

PHILIP  II. 

Yet  be  cautious;  to  lose  a  vessel  of  the  state  will  be  to 
risk  your  lif ea  for  so  the  law  provides. 

FONTANAEES 
I  know  it,  and  accept  the  risk. 

PHILIP  II. 

Well  said,  brave  man!  If  you  succeed  in  constructing 
this  sailless,  oarless  vessel  that  shall  face  the  wind  as  swiftly 
as  if  the  wind  were  in  its  favor,  I  will  create  you — what  is  your 
name? 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  189 

FONTANARES 

Alfonso  Fontanares. 

PHILIP  II. 

You  shall  be  Don  Alfonso  Fontanares,  Duke  of Nep- 

tunado,  Grandee  of  Spain — 

THE  DUKE  OF  LERMA 
Sire — the  statutes  concerning  nobility — 

PHILIP  II. 

Silence !  Duke  of  Lerma.  It  is  the  duty  of  a  king  to  exalt 
the  man  of  genius  above  all  other  men  and  thus  to  honor 
the  ray  of  light  which  God  has  given  to  him. 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR 
Sire— 

PHILIP  II. 
What  would  you? 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR 

We  did  not  imprison  this  man  on  the  charge  that  he  had 
commerce  with  the  devil,  nor  because  of  his  impiety,  nor 
because  he  springs  from  a  family  suspected  of  heresy;  but 
for  the  safety  of  monarchies.  Printing  has  permitted  clever 
men  to  communicate  their  thoughts  to  others  and  the  result 
has  been — Luther,  whose  word  has  flown  abroad  in  every 
direction.  But  this  man  is  endeavoring  to  make  out  of  all 
the  nations  of  the  earth  a  single  people,  and,  before  a  multi- 
tude like  this,  the  Holy  Office  trembles  for  the  fate  of  mon- 
archy. 

PHILIP  II. 
All  progress  moves  heavenward. 

THB  GRAND  INQUISITOR 

Heaven  does  not  command  many  things  which  yet  it  does 
not  hinder  men  from  doing. 


190  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

PHILIP  II. 

Our  duty  consists  in  bringing  good  out  of  evil  things  and 
in  this  work  of  amelioration  gathering  all  within  one  circle, 
whose  centre  is  the  throne.  Do  you  not  see  what  is  here  at 
stake,  even  the  realization  of  that  universal  dominion  long- 
sought  for  by  my  glorious  father? — (To  Fontanares)  When 
you  have  won  the  rank  of  duke  and  Spanish  grandee  of  the 
first  class,  I  will  put  upon  your  breast  the  Golden  Fleece ;  you 
shall  then  be  appointed  Grand  Master  of  Naval  Construc- 
tion in  Spain  and  the  Indies — (to  a  minister) — President, 
you  will  issue,  this  very  day,  under  pain  of  my  displeasure, 
the  order  to  put  at  the  disposal  of  this  man,  in  our  port  of 
Barcelona,  such  a  vessel  as  he  desires,  and — see  that  no 
obstacle  interferes  with  his  enterprise. 

QUINOLA 

Sire— 

PHILIP  II. 

What  do  you  desire? 


While  you  are  here,  grant,  sire,  full  pardon  to  a  wretcK 
named  Lavradi,  who  was  sentenced  by  a  deaf  magistrate. 

PHILIP  II. 

Because  the  judge  was  deaf,  must  the  king  be  blind? 

QUINOLA 
ENo,  but  indulgent,  sire,  which  is  almost  the  same  thing. 

FONTANARES 

Pardon!     Grant  pardon  to  the  only  man  who  has  sus- 
tained me  in  my  struggle ! 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  191 

PHILIP  II.   (to  a  minister) 

This  man  has  talked  with  me,  and  I  gave  him  my  hand  to 
kiss;  issue  to  him  letters  of  my  full  pardon. 

THE  QUEEN  (to  the  king) 

If  this  man  (she  points  to  Fontanares)  is  one  of  those 
great  discoverers,  raised  up  of  God,  Don  Philip  you  have 
done  a  good  day's  work  this  morning. 

PHILIP  II.  (to  the  queen) 

It  is  very  difficult  to  distinguish  between  a  man  of  genius 
and  a  madman ;  but  if  he  is  a  madman,  my  promises  are  only 
worth  the  value  of  his. 

QUINOLA   (to  the  marchioness) 

Here  is  your  letter,  but  let  me  beg  you,  between  ourselves, 
to  write  no  more. 

THE  MARCHIONESS 

We  are  saved!  £The  court  follows  the  king  into  the  royal 
apartment.) 


'SCENE  FOURTEENTH. 
FONTANARES  AND  QUINOLA. 

FONTANARES 

Surely  I  am  dreaming — Duke!  Grandee  of  Spain!  The 
Golden  Fleece! 

QUINOLA 

And  Master  of  Naval  Constructions !  We  shall  have  plenty 
of  contractors  to  patronize.  The  court  is  an  odd  place.  I 
should  like  to  succeed  there ;  how  is  it  to  be  done  ?  By  impu- 
dence ?  I  have  enough  of  that  to  sell !  By  trickery  ?  Why,  the 


192  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

king  believes  my  tale  of  the  Virgen  del  Filar — (he  laughs). 
But  what  is  my  master  thinking  about? 

FONTANARES 

Let  us  start  at  once. 

QUINOLA 
For  what  place? 

FONTANARES 

For  Barcelona. 

QUINOLA 

No — for  a  tavern.  If  the  air  of  the  court  gives  the  citizens 
a  good  appetite,  it  makes  me  devilish  thirsty.  After  a  drink, 
my  glorious  master,  you  will  see  your  Quinola  a  very  busy 
man;  for  we  must  not  delude  ourselves.  Between  the  word 
of  the  king  and  the  attainment  of  success,  we  shall  meet  with 
as  many  jealous  philosophers,  scheming  tricksters,  malicious 
cavillers,  crooked,  rapacious,  greedy  beasts  of  prey,  thievish 
parasites  as  have  ever  beset  you  in  your  attempts  to  see  the 
king. 

FONTANARES 

Yet  to  obtain  my  Marie  I  must  succeed. 

QUINOLA 
Yes,  and  for  our  own  sakes  also. 

Curtain  to  the  Prologue. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  193 


ACT  I. 


SCENE  FIRST. 

(The  scene  is  Barcelona.  The  stage  represents  a  public 
place.  On  the  left  of  the  spectator  appear  houses,  among 
which  that  of  Lothundiaz  stands  at  the  corner  of  the  street. 
To  the  right  is  the  palace  of  Senora  Brancadori.  The  time 
is  night,  but  the  day  begins  to  dawn.) 

MONIPODIO  (wrapped  in  a  mantle,  seated  under  the  balcony  of 
the  Brancadori  palace).    QUINOLA  (who  glides  forth  cau- 
tiously like  a  thief,  and  brushes  against  Monipodio). 

MONIPODIO 
Who  is  it  dares  to  tread  on  my  shoes? 

QUINOLA  (in  ragged  array) :. 
A  gentleman,  who  does  not  wear  any. 

MONIPODIO 
That  sounds  like  Lavradi. 

QUINOLA 
Monipodio ! — I  thought  that  you  had  been — hanged ! 

MONIPODIO 
I  thought  that  you  had  been  beaten  to  death  in  Africa. 

QUINOLA 
Alas,  we  have  been  beaten  enough  without  going  to  Africa  I 


194  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

MONIPODIO 

And  do  you  dare  to  show  yourself  here? 

QUINOLA 

You  seem  comfortable  enough  here.  As  for  me,  I  have  the 
king's  pardon  in  my  pocket,  and  while  I  am  waiting  for  my 
patent  of  nobility  I  call  myself  Quinola. 

MONIPODIO 
I  suppose  you  stole  your  pardon? 

QUINOLA 
!Yes,  from  the  king. 

MONIPODIO 

And  have  you  seen  the  king?  (He  sniffs  at  him.)  You 
smell  of  poverty — 

QUINOLA 
Like  a  poet's  garret.    And  what  are  you  doing? 

MONIPODIO 
Nothing. 

QUINOLA 

That  is  soon  done ;  if  it  gives  you  any  income,  I  would  like 
to  embrace  your  profession. 

MONIPODIO 

I  have  been  misunderstood,  my  friend!  Hunted  by  our 
political  enemies — 

QUINOLA 
The  judges,  magistrates  and  police. 

MONIPODIO 
It  is  necessary  for  a  man  to  have  a  political  party. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  195 

QUINOLA 

I  understand  you;  from  being  the  game  you  have  become 

the  hunter. 

MONIPODIO 

What  nonsense !  I  am  always  myself.  I  have  merely  come 
to  an  understanding  with  the  viceroy.  When  one  of  my  fel- 
lows has  reached  the  end  of  his  tether,  I  say  to  him:  "Get 
off/'  and  if  he  doesn't  go,  ah!  I  hale  him  to  justice — you 
understand ! — That  is  not  treachery  is  it  ? 

QUINOLA 
It  is  prevision — 

MONIPODIO 
And,  by  the  bye,  you  have  just  come  from  court. 

QUINOLA 

Listen.  (Aside)  Here  is  a  man,  the  very  one  I  want, 
knows  everything  in  Barcelona.  (Aloud)  After  what  you 
have  told  me  we  ought  to  be  friends. 

MONIPODIO 
He  who  has  my  secret  must  be  my  friend — 

QUINOLA 

You  are  as  watchful  here  as  if  you  were  jealous.  What  is 
it  ?  Come  let  us  moisten  our  clay  and  wet  our  whistle  with  a 
bottle  in  some  tavern ;  it  is  daybreak — 

MONIPODIO 

Do  you  see  how  this  palace  is  lit  up  for  a  feast  ?  Don  Fre- 
gose  is  dining  and  gaming  at  the  house  of  Senora  Faustine 
Brancadori. 

QUINOLA 

Quite  Venetian,  Brancadori.  'Tis  a  rare  name !  She  must 
be  the  widow  of  some  patrician. 


196  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

MONIPODIO 

She  is  twenty-two,  subtle  as  musk,  and  governs  the  gover- 
nor, and,  let  me  tell  you  between  ourselves,  has  already 
wheedled  out  of  him  all  that  he  picked  up  under  Charles  V. 
in  the  wars  of  Italy.  What  comes  from  the  flute— 

QUINOLA 
The  air  takes.    What  is  the  age  of  our  viceroy? 

MONIPODIO 
He  owns  up  to  sixty  years. 

QUINOLA 

And  yet  they  speak  of  first  love!  I  know  of  nothing  so 
terrible  as  last  love;  it  strangles  a  man.  I  am  happy  that  I 
have  been  brought  up  so  far  with  unsinged  wings!  I  might 
be  a  statesman — 

MONIPODIO 

This  old  general  is  still  young  enough  to  employ  me  as  a 
spy  upon  the  Brancadori,  while  she  pays  me  for  her  liberty; 
and — you  can  understand  the  joyous  life  I  lead  by  making  no 
mischief ! 

QUINOLA 

Now  you  want  to  know  all,  Old  Curiosity,  in  order  to  place 
your  thumb  upon  the  throat  of  opportunity?  (Monipodio  nods 
assent.)  Is  Lothundiaz  still  alive? 

MONIPODIO 

Yonder  is  his  house,  and  this  palace  belongs  to  him ;  always 
grasping  more  and  more  property. 

QUINOLA 

I  had  hoped  to  find  the  heiress  her  own  mistress.  My  mas- 
ter is  ruined ! 


EESOUKCES  OF  QUINOLA  197 

MONIPODIO 

You  bring  back  a  master  with  you? 

QUINOLA 
One  who  will  bring  me  mines  of  gold. 

MONIPODIO 
Could  not  I  enter  his  service? 

QUINOLA 

I  am  counting  very  much  upon  your  co-operation  here.-— 
Listen,  Monipodio;  we  are  going  to  change  the  face  of  the 
earth.  My  master  has  promised. the  king  to  make  one  of  his 
finest  vessels  move  through  the  water,  without  sails  or  oars,  in 
the  wind's  eye,  more  swiftly  than  the  wind  itself. 

MONIPODIO  (examining  Quinola  as  he  walks  round  him) 
Something  has  changed  my  friend. 

QUINOLA 

Monipodio,  please  to  remember  that  men  like  us  must 
not  be  astonished  at  anything.  Leave  that  to  smaller  people. 
The  king  has  given  us  the  ship,  but  without  a  doubloon  to  go 
and  get  her.  We  arrived  here,  therefore,  with  those  two  faith- 
ful companions  of  genius,  hunger  and  thirst.  A  poor  man 
who  discovers  a  valuable  idea  has  always  seemed  to  me  like  a 
crumb  of  bread  in  a  fish-pond ;  every  fish  takes  a  bite  at  him. 
We  are  likely  to  reach  the  goal  of  glory  naked  and  dying. 

MONIPODIO 
You  are  probably  right. 

QUINOLA 

One  morning  at  Valladolid,  my  master  was  within  an  ace 
of.  divulging  his  secret  to  a  philosopher  who  knew  nothing  of 


198  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

it.    I  warrant  you,  I  showed  that  gentleman  the  door,  with  & 
dose  of  cudgel  given  with  a  good  will. 

MONIPODIO 
But  how  is  it  possible  for  us  to  gain  a  fortune  honestly  ? 

QUINOLA 

My  master  is  in  love.  Now  love  forces  a  man  to  do  as 
many  foolish  as  wise  things.  We  two  have  first  of  all  to  pro- 
tect our  protector.  My  master  is  a  philosopher  who  cannot 
keep  accounts — 

MONIPODIO 

Oh!  my  dear  fellow,  in  choosing  a  master,  you  ought  to 
ihave  selected  one — 

QUINOLA 

Devotion  and  address  count  more  with  him  than  money; 
for  money  and  favor  to  him  are  mere  snares.  I  know  him 
well ;  he  will  either  give  us  or  permit  us  to  take  enough  to  end 
pur  days  in  respectability. 

MONIPODIO 
!Ah !  that  is  what  I  have  dreamed  of. 

QUINOLA 

We  must  then  use  all  our  talents,  which  have  been  so  far 
wasted,  in  carrying  out  this  grand  enterprise.  We  should 
have  had  a  great  deal  of  misfortune  if  the  devil  had  not 
favored  us. 

MONIPODIO 

It  will  be  almost  worth  while  to  make  a  journey  to  Compos- 
tellb.  I  have  the  smuggler's  faith,  and  I  love  wine. 

QUINOLA 

Are  yon  not  still  in  touch  with  the  coiners  of  false  money,, 
and  the  skeleton  key-makers? 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  199 

MONIPODIO 
Yes — but  for  the  good  of  the  country — 

QUINOLA 

Well,  that's  the  trick!  As  my  master  constructs  his  ma- 
chine, I  shall  take  possession  of  the  models  of  each  part  and 
we  will  make  a  duplicate — 

MONIPODIO 
Quinola ! 

QUINOLA 

What  now?     (Paquita  shows  herself  on  the  balcony.) 

MONIPODIO 
You  are  the  greatest  of  men ! 

QUINOLA 

I  know  it.  Make  a  discovery,  and  you  will  die  persecuted 
as  a  criminal ;  make  a  copy,  and  you  will  live  happy  as  a  fool ! 
And  on  the  other  hand,  if  Fontanares  should  die,  why  should 
not  I  save  his  invention  for  the  good  of  humanity  ? 

MONIPODIO 

Especially,  since  we  ourselves  are  humanity,  as  an  old 
author  says. — Let  me  embrace  you — 


SCENE  SECOND. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  PAQUITA. 

QUINOLA  (aside) 

Next  to  an  honest  dupe,  I  know  nothing  better  than  the 
Self-deluding  rascal. 


200  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

PAQUITA  (to  herself) 

Two  friends  embrace  each  other !  they  cannot  therefore  be 
spies. 

QUINOLA 

You  are  already  in  the  secrets  of  the  viceroy,  you  have  ihe 
confidence  of  the  Brancadori  lady.  That  is  a  good  beginning ! 
Work  a  miracle  and  give  us  some  clothes  first  of  all,  and  if  we 
two,  taking  counsel  with  a  flask  of  liquor,  do  not  discover 
some  way  by  which  my  master  and  Marie  Lothundiaz  may 
meet,  I  will  not  answer  for  the  consequences.  For  the  last 
two  days  his  constant  talk  has  been  of  her,  and  I  am  afraid 
he  may  some  day  entirely  lose  his  head. 

MONIPODIO 

The  maiden  is  guarded  like  a  condemned  convict.  This  is 
the  reason :  Lothundiaz  has  had  two  wives ;  the  first  was  poor 
and  gave  him  a  son,  the  second  had  a  fortune,  and  when  she 
died  left  all  to  her  daughter,  and  left  it  in  such  a  way  that 
she  could  never  be  deprived  of  it.  The  old  man  is  a  miser 
whose  only  object  is  his  son's  success.  Sarpi,  the  secretary  of 
the  viceroy,  in  order  to  win  the  rich  heiress,  has  promised  to 
obtain  a  title  for  Lothundiaz,  and  takes  vast  interest  in  his 
son — 

QUINOLA 

There  you  are — an  enemy  at  the  very  outset. 

MONIPODIO 

We  must  use  great,  prudence.  Listen.  I  am  going  to 
give  a  hint  to  Mathieu  Magis,  the  most  prominent  Lombard 
in  the  city,  and  a  man  entirely  under  my  influence.  You 
will  find  everything  you  need  at  his  place,  from  diamonds 
down  to  low  shoes.  When  you  return  here  you  shall  see  our 
young  lady.  (Exeunt.) 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  201 

SCENE  THIRD. 
PAQUITA  AND  FAUSTINE. 

PAQUITA 

Madame  is  right ;  two  men  are  on  sentry  under  her  balcony 
and  are  going  away  on  seeing  the  day  dawn. 

FAUSTINE 

This  old  viceroy  will  end  by  disgusting  me!  He  suspects 
me,  even  at  my  own  house,  while  I  am  within  sight  and  hear- 
ing of  him.  (Exit  Paquita.) 


SCENE  FOURTH. 
FAUSTINE  AND  DON  FEEGOSE. 

DON  FEEGOSE 

Madame,  you  run  the  risk  of  catching  cold ;  it  is  too  chilly 
here — 

FAUSTINE 

Come  here,  my  lord.  You  tell  me,  that  you  have  faith  in 
me;  but  you  put  Monipodio  to  watch  under  my  windows. 
Your  behavior  is  not  to  be  excused  like  the  excessive  pru- 
dence of  a  young  man,  and  necessarily  exasperates  an  honest 
woman.  There  are  two  kinds  of  jealousy:  the  first  makes  a 
man  distrust  his  mistress ;  the  second  leads  him  to  lose  faith 
in  himself.  Confine  yourself,  if  you  please,  to  the  second. 

DON  FREGOSE 

Do  not  end  so  charming  a  celebration,  senora,  by  a  burst 
of  anger  which  I  do  not  deserve. 


202  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

FAUSTINE 

Was  Monipodio,  through  whom  you  learn  everything  that 
goes  on  in  Barcelona,  under  my  windows  last  night,  or  was 
he  not  ?  Answer  me  on  your  honor  as  a  gentleman. 

DON  FREGOSE 

He  might  have  heen  in  the  neighborhood  to  prevent  our 
gamesters  from  being  attacked  on  their  way  home. 

FAUSTINE 

This  is  the  evasive  stratagem  of  an  old  general!  I  must 
know  the  truth.  If  you  have  deceived  me  I  will  never  see 
you  again  so  long  as  I  live !  (She  leaves  him.) 


SCENE  FIFTH. 

DON  FREGOSE  (alone) 

Oh,  why  cannot  I  give  up  the  sight,  the  voice  of  this  wo- 
man! She  delights  me  even  in  her  very  anger,  and  I  love 
to  call  forth  her  reproaches,  that  I  may  listen  to  her  words. 


SCENE  SIXTH. 

PAQUITA  AND  MONIPODIO  (disguised  as  a  begging  friar  at  the 
door  of  the  Brancadori  Palace). 

PAQUITA 

Madame  told  me  to  learn  why  Monipodio  stationed  himself 
below,  but  I  saw  no  one  there. 

MONIPODIO 

Alms,  my  dear   child,  is  a  treasure  which   is  laid   up  in 
heaven. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  203 

PAQUITA 
I  have  nothing  to  give. 

MONIPODIO 
Never  mind,  promise  me  something. 

PAQUITA 
This  is  rather  a  jovial  friar. 

MONIPODIO 

She  does  not  recognize  me  and  I  believe  I  can  run  the 
risk.  {He  knocks  at  the  door  of  Lothundiaz.) 

PAQUITA 

Ah!  If  you  count  upon  the  alms  of  our  friend  the  land- 
owner, you  would  be  richer  with  my  promise.  (To  Faustine 
Brancadori,  who  appears  on  the  balcony}  Madame,  the  men 
are  gone. 


SCENE  SEVENTH. 

MONIPODIO  AND  DONA  LOPEZ  (at  the  door  of  the  Lothundiaz 

Mansion). 

DONA  LOPEZ 
What  is  it  you  desire? 

MONIPODIO 

The  brothers  of  our  order  have  received  tidings  of  your 
dear  Lopez — 

DONA  LOPEZ 
That  he  was  living? 

MONIPODIO 
!A.s  you  conduct  the  Senorita  Marie  to  the  convent  of  the 


204  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

Dominicans,  take  a  turn  round  the  square;  you  will  meet 
there  an  escaped  Algerian  captive,  who  will  tell  you  about 
Lopez. 

DONA  LOPEZ 

Merciful  heavens !    Would  that  I  could  ransom  him ! 

MONIPODIO 

Be  careful,  first  of  all,  whom  you  approach  on  that  subject  r 
suppose  that  he  were  a  Mussulman  ? 

DONA  LOPEZ 

Dear  Lopez !    I  must  go  and  prepare  the  senorita  for  her 
journey.     (Re-enters  the  house.) 


SCENE  EIGHTH. 
MONIPODIO,  QUINOLA  AND  FONTANARES. 

FONTANARES 
At  last,  Quinola,  we  stand  beneath  her  windows. 

QDINOLA 

Yes,  but  where  is  Monipodio?  Has  he  allowed  himself  to 
be  beaten  off?  (He  turns  to  the  friar)  Sir  Beggar? 

MONIPODIO 
All  goes  well. 

QUINOLA 

Sangodemy !  What  perfection  of  mendicancy !  Titian  ought 
to  paint  you.  (To  Fontanares)  She  will  come.  (To  Moni- 
podio) How  do  you  find  things? 

MONIPODIO 
Most  favorable. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  205 

QUINOLA 

He  shall  be  a  grandee  of  Spain. 

MONIPODIO 

Oh! — That  is  nothing — There  is  something  still  better 
than  that! 

QUINOLA  (to  Fontanares) 

Now,  sir,  you  must  above  all  things  be  prudent.     Let  us 
have  no  sighing,  which  might  open  the  eyes  of  the  duenna. 


SCENE  NINTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  DONA  LOPEZ  AND  MARIE. 

MONIPODIO  (to  the  duenna,  pointing  at  Quinola) 
This  is  the  Christian  who  escaped  from  captivity. 

QUINOLA  (speaking  to  the  duenna) 

Ah!  madame,  I  recognize  you  from  the  portrait  of  your 
charms  which  Senor  Lorenzo  drew  for  me.  (He  takes  her, 
aside.) 


SCENE  TENTH. 
MONIPODIO,  MARIE  AND  FONTANARES. 

MARIE 
Is  it  really  you? 

FONTANARES 

Yes,  Marie,  and  I  have  so  far  succeeded;  our  happiness  is 
assured. 

MARIE 
Ah !    If  you  only  knew  how  I  have  prayed  for  your  success ! 


206  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

FONTANARES 

I  have  millions  of  things  to  say  to  you;  but  there  is  one 
thing  which  I  ought  to  say  a  million  times,  to  make  up  for 
all  the  weary  time  of  my  absence. 

MARIE 

If  you  speak  thus  to  me,  I  shall  believe  you  do  not  know 
the  depth  of  my  attachment ;  for  it  is  fed  less  upon  flattering 
words  than  upon  the  interest  I  feel  in  all  that  interests  you. 

FONTANARES 

What  I  am  most  interested  in  now,  Marie,  is  to  learn  before 
engaging  in  so  important  an  undertaking,  whether  you  have 
the  courage  to  resist  your  father,  who  is  said  to  contemplate 
a  marriage  for  you. 

MARIE 
Do  you  think  then  that  I  could  change? 

FONTANARES 

With  us  men,  to  love  is  to  be  forever  jealous !  You  are  so 
rich,  I  am  so  poor.  When  you  thought  I  was  ruined,  you  had 
no  perturbation  for  the  future,  but  now  that  success  has  come 
we  shall  have  the  whole  world  between  us.  And  you  shall  be 
my  star !  and  shall  shine  upon  me  though  from  so  great  a  dis- 
tance. If  I  thought  that  at  the  end  of  my  long  struggle  I 
should  not  find  you  at  my  side,  oh!  in  the  midst  of  all  the 
triumph  I  should  die  for  grief ! 

MARIE 

Do  you  not  know  me  yet?  Though  I  was  lonely,  almost  a 
recluse  while  you  were  absent,  the  pure  feeling  which  from 
our  childhood  united  me  with  you  has  grown  greater  with 
your  destiny!  When  these  eyes,  which  with  such  rapture 
look  on  you  again,  shall  be  closed  forever;  when  this  heart 
which  only  beats  for  God,  for  my  father  and  for  you  shall  be 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  207 

reduced  to  dust,  I  believe  that  on  earth  will  survive  a  soul  of 
mine  to  love  you  still !    Do  you  doubt  now  my  constancy  ? 

FONTANAEES 

After  listening  to  such  words  as  these,  what  martyr  would 
not  receive  new  courage  at  the  stake? 


SCENE  ELEVENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  LOTHUNDIAZ. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 
That  cursed  duenna  has  left  my  door  open. 

MONIPODIO    (aside) 

Alas,  those  poor  children  are  ruined! — (To  Lothundiaz) 
Alms  is  a  treasure  which  is  laid  up  in  heaven. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

Go  to  work,  and  you  can  lay  up  treasures  here  on  earth. 
'(He  looks  round)  I  do  not  see  my  daughter  and  her  duenna 
in  their  usual  place. 


MONIPODIO  (to  Lothundiaz) 
The  Spaniard  is  by  nature  generous. 


LOTHUNDIAZ 

Oh !  get  away !  I  am  a  Catalonian  and  suspicious  by  nature. 
(He  catches  sight  of  his  daughter  and  Fontanares.)  What  do 
I  see? — My  daughter  with  a  young  senor!  (He  runs  up  to 
them.)  It  is  hard  enough  to  pay  duennas  for  guarding  chil- 
dren with  the  heart  and  eyes  of  a  mother  without  finding 
them  deceivers.  (To  his  daughter)  How  is  it  that  you,  Marie, 


208  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

heiress  of  ten  thousand  sequins  a  year,  should  speak  to — do 
my  eyes  deceive  me  ? — It  is  that  blasted  machinist  who  hasn't 
a  maravedi.  (Monipodio  makes  signs  to  Quinola.) 

MARIE 

Alfonso  Fontanares  is  not  without  fortune;  he  has  seen 
the  king. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 
So  much  the  worse  for  the  king. 

FONTANARES  . 

Senor  Lothundiaz,  I  am  quite  in  a  position  to  aspire  to 
the  hand  of  you  daughter. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 
Ah! 

FONTANARES 

Will  you  accept  for  your  son-in-law  the  Duke  of  Neptunado, 
grandee  of  Spain,  and  favorite  of  the  king?  (Lothundiaz 
pretends  to  look  for  the  Duke  of  Neptunado.) 

MARIE 
But  it  is  he  himself,  dear  father. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

You,  whom  I  have  known  since  you  were  two  feet  high, 
whose  father  used  to  sell  cloth — do  you  take  me  for  a  fool  ? 


SCENE  TWELFTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  QUINOLA  AND  DONA  LOPEZ. 

QUINOLA 
Who  said  fool? 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  209 

FONTANAKES 

As  a  present  upon  our  wedding,  I  will  procure  for  you 
and  for  my  wife  a  patent  of  nobility;  we  will  permit  you  to 
settle  her  fortune  by  entail  upon  your  son — 

MARIE 
How  is  that,  father? 


How  is  that,  sir? 

LOTHUNDIAZ 
Why!  this  is  that  brigand  of  a  Lavradi! 

QUINOLA 

My  master  has  won  from  the  king  an  acknowledgment  of 
my  innocence. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

To  obtain  for  me  a  patent  of  nobility  cannot  then  be  a 
difficult  matter. 

QUINOLA 

And  do  you  really  think  that  a  townsman  can  be  changed 
into  a  nobleman  by  letters-patent  of  the  king !  Let  us  make 
the  experiment.  Imagine  for  a  moment  that  I  am  the  Mar- 
quis of  Lavradi.  My  dear  duke,  lend  me  a  hundred  ducats? 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

A  hundred  cuts  of  the  rod!  a  hundred  ducats! — It  is  the 
rent  of  a  piece  of  property  worth  two  thousand  gold  doubloons. 

QUINOLA 

There!  I  told  you  so — and  that  fellow  wishes  to  be 
ennobled!  Let  us  try  again.  Count  Lothundiaz,  will  you 
advance  two  thousand  doubloons  in  gold  to  your  son-in-law 
that  he  may  fulfill  his  promises  to  the  King  of  Spain? 


210  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

LOTHUNDIAZ  (to  Fontanares) 
But  you  must  tell  me  what  you  have  promised. 

FONTANARES 

The  king  of  Spain,  learning  of  my  love  for  your  daughter, 
is  coming  to  Barcelona  to  see  a  ship  propelled  without  oars  or 
sails,  by  a  machine  of  my  invention,  and  will  himself  honor 
our  marriage  by  his  presence. 

LOTHUNDIAZ  (aside) 

He  is  laughing  at  me.  (Aloud)  You  are  very  likely  to 
propel  a  ship  without  sails  or  oars !  I  hope  you  will  do  it;  I'll 
go  to  see  it.  It  would  amuse  me,  but  I  don't  wish  to  have  for 
a  son-in-law  any  man  of  such  lofty  dreams.  Girls  brought 
up  in  our  families  need  no  prodigies  for  husbands,  but  men 
who  are  content  to  mind  their  business  at  their  own  homes, 
and  leave  the  affairs  of  the  sun  and  moon  alone.  All  that  I 
want  is  that  my  son-in-law  should  be  the  good  father  of  his 
family. 

FONTANARES 

Your  daughter,  senor,  when  she  was  but  twelve  years  old, 
smiled  on  me  as  Beatrice  smiled  on  Dante.  Child  as  she  was, 
she  saw  in  me  at  first  naught  but  a  brother;  since  then,  as 
we  felt  ourselves  separated  by  fortune,  she  has  watched  me  as 
I  formed  that  bold  enterprise  which  should  bridge  with  glory 
the  gulf  that  stood  between  us.  It  was  for  her  sake  I  went 
to  Italy  and  studied  with  Galileo.  She  was  the  first  to  ap- 
plaud my  work,  the  first  to  understand  it.  She  had  wedded 
herself  to  my  thought  before  it  had  occurred  to  her  that  one 
day  she  might  wed  herself  to  me.  It  is  thus  she  has  become 
the  whole  world  to  me.  Do  you  now  understand  how  I  adore 
her? 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

It  is  just  for  that  reason  that  I  refuse  to  give  her  to  you. 
In  ten  years'  time  she  would  be  deserted,  that  you  might  run 
after  some  other  discovery. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  211 

MARIE 

Is  it  possible,  father,  that  a  lover  could  prove  false  to  a 
love  which  has  spurred  him  on  to  work  such  wonders  ? 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

Yes,  when  he  can  work  them  no  longer. 

MARIE 

If  he  should  become  a  duke,  grandee  of  Spain,  and 
wealthy  ? — 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

If !  If !  If ! — Do  you  take  me  for  an  imbecile  ?  These  if s 
are  the  horses  that  drag  to  the  hospital  all  these  sham  world- 
discoverers. 

FONTANARES 

But  here  are  the  letters  in  which  the  king  grants  to  me  the 
use  of  a  ship. 

QUINOLA 

Now  open  your  eyes !  My  master  is  at  once  a  man  of  genius 
and  a  handsome  youth;  genius  dulls  a  man  and  makes  him 
of  no  use  in  a  home,  I  grant  you ;  but  the  handsome  youth  is 
there  still ;  what  more  is  needed  by  a  girl  for  happiness  ? 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

Happiness  does  not  consist  in  these  extremes.  A  handsome 
youth  and  a  man  of  genius, — these,  forsooth,  are  fine  reasons 
for  pouring  out  the  treasures  of  Mexico.  My  daughter  shall 
be  Madame  Sarpi. 


SCENE  THIRTEENTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  AND  SARPI  (on  the  balcony). 

SARPI  (aside) 
Some  one  uttered  my  name.  What  do  I  see?     It  is  the 


212  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

heiress  and  her  father !    What  can  they  be  doing  in  the  square 
at  this  hour  ? 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

Sarpi  has  not  gone  to  look  for  a  ship  in  the  harbor  of  Valla- 
dolid,  but  he  gained  promotion  for  my  son. 

FONTANARES 

Do  not,  Lothundiaz,  merely  for  the  sake  of  your  son's  ad- 
vancement, dispose  of  your  daughter's  hand  without  my  con- 
sent ;  she  loves  me  and  I  love  her  in  return.  In  a  short  time 
I  shall  be  (Sarpi  appears)  one  of  the  most  influential  men  in 
Spain,  and  powerful  enough  to  reap  my  vengeance — 


FONTANARES 

Tell  him  then  Marie,  all  that  I  am  doing  to  deserve  you. 

SARPI  (aside) 
What!  a  rival? 

QUINOLA  (to  Lothundiaz) 
Sir,  if  you  don't  consent,  you  are  in  a  fair  way  to  be  damned. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 
Who  told  you  that? 

QUINOLA 

And  worse  than  that, — you  are  going  to  be  robbed;  this 
111  swear  to. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

To  prevent  my  either  being  robbed  or  damned  I  am  keep- 
ing my  daughter  for  a  man  who  may  not  have  genius,  but 
who  has  common  sense— 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  21* 

FONTANARES 

At  least  you  will  give  me  time — 

SARPI 

Why  give  him  time? 

QUINOLA  (to  Monipodio) 
Who  can  that  be? 

MONIPODIO 
Sarpi. 

QUINOLA 
What  a  bird  of  prey  he  looks ! 

MONIPODIO 

And  he  is  as  difficult  to  kill.  He  is  the  real  governor  of 
Barcelona. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

My  respects  to  you,  honorable  secretary!  (To  Fonta- 
nares)  Farewell,  my  friend,  your  arrival  is  an  excellent  rea- 
son why  I  should  hurry  on  the  wedding.  (To  Marie)  Come, 
my  daughter,  let  us  go  in.  (To  the  duenna)  And  you,  old 
hag,  you'll  have  to  pay  for  this. 

SARPI  (to  Lothundiaz) 
This  hidalgo  seems  to  have  pretensions — 

FONTANARES  (to  Sarpi) 

Nay,  I  have  a  right!  (Exeunt  Marie,  the  duenna  and 
'Lothundiaz.) 


SCENE  FOURTEENTH. 
MONIPODIO,  SARPI,  FONTANARES  AND  QUINOLA. 

SARPI 
A  right? — Do  you  know  that  the   nephew  of    Fra  Paolo 


214  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

Sarpi,  kinsman  of  the  Brancadori,  count  in  the  Kingdom  of 
Naples,  secretary  to  the  viceroy,  of  Catalonia,  makes  preten- 
sion to  the  hand  of  Marie  Lothundiaz?  When  another  man 
claims  a  right  in  the -matter  he  insults  both  her  and  me. 

FONTANAEES 

Do  you  know  that  I  for  five  years,  I,  Alfonso  Fontanares, 
to  whom  the  king  our  master  has  promised  the  title  of  Duke 
of  Neptunado  and  Grandee,  as  well  as  the  Golden  Fleece,  have 
loved  Marie  Lothundiaz,  and  that  your  pretensions,  made  in 
spite  of  the  oath  which  she  has  sworn  to  me,  will  be  consid- 
ered, unless  you  renounce  them,  an  insult  both  by  her  and 
by  me? 

SARPI 

I  did  not  know,  my  lord,  that  I  had  so  great  a  personage 
lor  a  rival.  In  any  case,  future  Duke  of  Neptunado,  future 
Grandee,  future  Knight  of  the  Golden  Fleece,  we  love  the 
same  woman ;  and  if  you  have  the  promise  of  Marie,  I  have 
that  of  her  father;  you  are  expecting  honors,  while  I  possess 
them. 

FONTANARES 

Now,  listen;  let  us  remain  just  where  we  are;  let  us  not 
utter  another  word;  do  not  insult  me  even  by  a  look.  Had  I 
a  hundred  quarrels,  I  would  fight  with  no  one  until  I  had  com- 
pleted my  enterprise  and  answered  successfully  the  expecta- 
tion of  my  king.  When  that  moment  comes,  I  will  fight 
single-handed  against  all.  And,  when  I  have  ended  the  con- 
flict, you  will  find  me — close  to  the  king. 

SARPI 
Oh !  we  are  not  going  to  lose  sight  of  each  other. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  215 

SCENE  FIFTEENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  FAUSTINE,  DON  FREGOSE  AND  PAQJJITA. 

FAUSTINE  (on  the  balcony) 

Tell  me  what  is  going  on,  my  lord,  between  that  young 
man  and  your  secretary  ?  Let  us  go  down. 

QUINOLA  (to  Monipodio) 

Don't  you  think  that  my  master  has  pre-eminently  the  gift 
of  drawing  down  the  lightning  on  his  own  head  ? 
• 

MONIPODIO 
He  carries  his  head  so  high! 

SARPI  (to  Don  Fregose) 

My  lord,  there  has  arrived  in  Catalonia  a  man  upon  whom 
the  king  our  master  has  heaped  future  honors.  According  to 
my  humble  opinion,  he  should  be  welcomed  by  your  excellency 
in  accordance  with  his  merits. 

DON  FREGOSE  (to  Fontanares) 
Of  what  house  are  you  ? 

FONTANARES  (aside) 

How  many  sneers,  such  as  this,  have  I  not  been  forced  to 
endure!  (Aloud)  The  king,  your  excellency,  never  asked 
me  that  question.  But  here  is  his  letter  and  that  of  his  min- 
isters. (He  hands  him  a  package.) 

FAUSTINE  (to  Paquita) 
That  man  has  the  air  of  a  king. 

PAQUITA 
Of  a  king  who  will  prove  a  conqueror. 


216  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

FAUSTINE  (recognizing  Monipodio) 
Monipodio !    Do  you  know  who  that  man  is  ? 

MONIPODIO 

He  is  a  man  who,  according  to  rumor,  is  going  to  turn  the 
world  upside  down. 

FAUSTINE 

Ah !  I  see ;  it  is  that  famous  inventor  of  whom  I  have  heard 
so  much. 

MONIPODIO 

And  here  is  his  servant. 

• 

DON  FREGOSE 

Sarpi,  you  may  file  these  ministerial  documents ;  I  will  keep 
that  of  the  king.  (To  Fontanares)  Well,  my  fine  fellow,  the 
letter  of  the  king  seems  to  me  to  be  positive.  You  are  under- 
taking, I  see,  to  achieve  the  impossible !  However  great  you 
may  be,  perhaps  it  would  be  well  for  you  to  take  the  advice, 
in  this  affair,  of  Don  Eamon,  a  philosopher  of  Catalonia  who, 
on  this  subject,  has  written  some  famous  treatises — 

FONTANARES 

In  a  matter  of  this  kind,  your  excellency,  the  finest  disser- 
tations in  the  world  are  not  worth  so  much  as  a  practical 
achievement. 

DON  FREGOSE 

That  sounds  presumptuous.  (To  Sarpi)  Sarpi,  you  must 
place  at  the  disposal  of  this  gentleman  whatever  vessel  in  the 
harbor  he  may  choose. 

SARPI  (to  the  viceroy) 
Are  you  quite  sure  that  such  is  the  king's  wish? 

DON  FREGOSE 

We  shall  see.  In  Spain  it  is  best  to  say  a  paternoster 
between  every  two  steps  we  take. 


KESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  2«f 

SAEPI 

Other  letters  on  the  same  subject  have  reached  us  from 
Valladolid. 

FAUSTINE   (to  the  viceroy) 

What  are  you  talking  about  ? 

DON  FREGOSB 
Oh,  it  is  nothing  but  a  chimera. 

FAUSTINE 
But  don't  you  know  that  I  am  rather  fond  of  chimeras? 

DON  FEEQOSE 

This  is  the  chimera  of  some  philosopher  which  the  king 
has  taken  seriously  on  account  of  the  disaster  of  the  Armada. 
If  this  gentleman  succeeds,  we  shall  have  the  court  at  Bar- 
celona. 

FAUSTINE 
We  shall  be  much  indebted  to  him  for  that. 

DON  FREGOSE 

He  has  staked  his  life  on  a  commission  to  propel  a  vessel, 
swift  as  the  wind,  yet  straight  in  the  wind's  eye,  without  the 
employment  of  either  oars  or  sails. 

FAUSTINE 
Staked  his  life  ?    He  must  be  a  child  to  do  so. 

SAKPI 

Alfonso  Fontanares  reckons  that  the  performance  of  thia 
miracle  will  win  for  him  the  hand  of  Marie  Lothundiaz. 

FAUSTINI 
Ah !    He  loves  her  then — 


218  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

QUINOLA  (whispering  to  Faustine) 
No,  sefiora,  he  adores  her. 

FAUSTINE 
The  daughter  of  Lothundiaz ! 

DON  FREGOSE 
You  seem  suddenly  to  feel  a  great  interest  in  him. 

FAUSTINE 

I  hope  the  gentleman  may  succeed,  if  it  were  only  for  the 
purpose  of  bringing  the  court  here. 

DON  FREGOSE 

Senora,  will  you  not  come  and  take  luncheon  at  the  villa 
of  Avaloros?  A  vessel  is  at  your  service  in  the  harbor. 

FAUSTINE 

No,  my  lord,  this  night  of  pleasure  has  wearied  me,  and  a 
sail  would  prove  too  much.  I  am  not  obliged,  like  you,  to 
be  indefatigable;  youth  loves  sleep,  give  me  leave  then  to 
retire  and  take  a  little  rest. 

DON  FREGOSE 

You  never  say  anything  to  me  but  that  your  words  con- 
tain some  innuendo. 

FAUSTINE 

You  ought  to  be  grateful  that  I  do  not  take  you  seriously ! 
(Exeunt  Faustine,  the  Viceroy  and  Paquita.) 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  219 

SCENE  SIXTEENTH. 
AVALOROS,  QUINOLA,  MONIPODIO,  FONTANAEES  AND  SARPI. 

SARPI  (to  Avaloros} 
It  is  too  late  for  a  sail. 

AVALOROS 

I  do  not  care;  I  have  won  ten  crowns  in  gold.  (Sarpi  and 
Avaloros  talk  together.) 

FONTANARES  (to  Monipodio) 
Who  is  this  person? 

MONIPODIO 

It  is  Avaloros,  the  richest  banker  of  Catalonia;  he  has 
brought  the  whole  Mediterranean  to  be  his  tributary. 

QUINOLA 
I  feel  my  heart  filled  with  tenderness  towards  him. 

MONIPODIO 
Every  one  of  us  owns  him  as  our  master. 

AVALOROS  (to  Fontanares) 

Young  man,  I  am  a  banker ;  if  your  business  is  a  good  one, 
next  to  the  protection  of  God  and  that  of  the  king,  nothing  is 
so  good  as  that  of  a  millionaire. 

SARPI  (to  the  banker) 

Make  no  engagements  at  present. — You  and  I  together  will 
easily  be  able  to  make  ourselves  masters  of  this  enterprise. 

AVALOROS  (to  Fontanares) 

Very  well,  my  friend,  you  must  come  to  see  me.  (Moni* 
podio  secretly  robs  him  of  his  purse.) 


220  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

SCENE  SEVENTEENTH. 

MONIPODIO,  FONTANARES  AND  QUINOLA 

QUINOLA  (to  Fontenares) 
Are  you  making  a  good  beginning  here? 

MONIPODIO 
Don  Fregose  is  jealous  of  you. 

QUINOLA 
Sarpi  is  bent  on  defeating  your  enterprise. 

MONIPODIO 

You  are  posing  as  a  giant  before  dwarfs  who  are  in  power ! 
Before  you  put  on  these  airs  of  pride,  succeed !  People  who 
succeed  make  themselves  small,  slip  into  small  openings  and 
glide  inward  to  the  treasure. 

QUINOLA 
Glory  ? — But  my  dear  sir,  it  can  only  be  obtained  by  theft. 

FONTANARES 

Do  you  wish  me  to  abase  myself  ? 

MONIPODIO 
Yes,  in  order  that  you  may  gain  your  point. 

FONTANARES 

Pretty  good  for  a  Sarpi !  I  shall  make  an  open  struggle 
for  it.  But  what  obstacle  do  you  see  between  success  and  me  ? 
Am  I  not  on  my  way  to  the  harbor  to  choose  a  fine  galleon  ? 

QUINOLA 

Ah !  I  am  superstitious  on  that  point.  Sir,  do  not  choose 
the  galley! 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  221 

FOXTANABES 

I  see  no  reason  why  I  shouldn't. 

QUINOLA 

You  have  had  no  experience!  You  have  had  something 
else  to  make  discoveries  about.  Ah,  sir,  we  are  moneyless, 
without  credit  at  any  inn,  and  if  I  had  not  met  this  old 
friend  who  loves  me,  for  there  are  friends  who  hate  you,  we 
should  have  been  without  clothes — 

FONTANARES 

But  she  loves  me !  (Marie  waves  her  handle er chief  at  the 
window.)  See,  see,  my  star  is  shining! 

QUINOLA 

Why,  sir,  it  is  a  handkerchief!  Are  you  sufficiently  in 
your  right  mind  to  take  a  bit  of  advice  ? — This  is  not  the  sort 
of  madonna  for  yon;  you  need  a  Marchioness  of  Mondejar — 
one  of  those  slim  creatures,  clad  in  steel,  who  through  love  are 
capable  of  all  the  expedients  which  distress  makes  necessary. 
Now  the  Brancadori — 

FONTANARES 

If  you  want  to  see  me  throw  the  whole  thing  up  you  will 
go  on  talking  like  that !  Bear  that  in  mind ;  love  gives  the 
only  strength  I  have.  It  is  the  celestial  light  that  leads  me  on. 

QUINOLA 
There,  there,  do  not  excite  yourself. 

MONIPODIO 

This  man  makes  me  anxious !  He  seems  to  me  rather  to 
be  possessed  by  the  machinery  of  love  than  by  the  love  of 
machinery. 


222  RESOURCES  OF  QU1NOLA 

SCENE  EIGHTEENTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  PAQUITA. 

PAQUITA  (to  Fontanares) 

My  mistress  bids  me  tell  you,  senor,  that  you  must  be  on 
your  guard.  You  are  the  object  of  implacable  hatred  to  cer- 
tain persons. 

MONIPODIO 

That  is  my  business.  You  may  go  without  fear  through 
all  the  streets  of  Barcelona ;  if  any  one  seeks  your  life,  I  shall 
be  the  first  to  know  it. 

FONTANARES 
Danger !    Already  ? 

PAQUITA 
You  have  given  me  no  answer  for  her. 

QUINOLA 

No,  my  pet,  people  don't  think  about  two  machines  at  the 
same  time; — tell  your  divine  mistress  that  my  master  kisses 
her  feet.  I  am  a  bachelor,  sweet  angel,  and  wish  to  make  a 
happy  end.  (He  kisses  her.) 

PAQUITA  (slapping  him  in  the  face) 
You  fool ! 

QUINOLA 
Oh,  charming!  (Exit  Paquita.) 


SCENE  NINETEENTH. 

FONTANARES,  QUINOLA  AND  MONIPODIO. 

MONIPODIO 

Come  to  the  Golden  Sun.    I  know  the  host;  you  will  get 
credit  there. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  223 

QUINOLA 

The  battle  is  beginning  even  earlier  than  I  had  expected. 

FONTANARES 

Where  shall  I  obtain  money? 

QUINOLA 

We  can't  borrow  it,  but  we  can  buy  it.  How  much  do  you 
need? 

FONTANARES 
Two  thousand  doubloons  in  gold. 

QUINOLA 

I  have  been  trying  to  make  an  estimate  of  the  treasury  I 
intended  to  draw  upon ;  it  is  not  plump  enough  for  that. 

MONIPODIO 
Well,  now,  I  have  found  a  purse. 

QUINOLA 

Forget  nothing  in  your  estimate;  you  will  require,  sir, 
iron,  copper,  steel,  wood,  all  of  which  the  merchants  can  sup- 
ply. I  have  an  idea !  I  will  found  the  house  of  Quinola  and 
Company ;  if  they  don't  prosper,  you  shall. 

FONTANARES 
Ah!  what  would  have  become  of  me  without  you? 

MONIPODIO 
You  would  have  been  the  prey  of  Avaloros. 

FONTANARES 

To  work  then !  The  inventor  must  prove  the  salvation  of 
the  lover.  (Exeunt.} 

Curtain  to  the  First  Act. 


224  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

ACT  II. 


SCENE  FIRST. 

(A  room  in  the  palace  of  Senora  Brancadori.) 
AVALOROS,  SAEPI  AND  PAQUITA. 

AVALOROS 
Is  the  queen  of  our  lives  really  ill  ? 

PAQUITA 
•  She  is  melancholy. 

AVALOROS 
Is  thought,  then,  a  malady  ? 

PAQUITA 
Yes,  and  you  therefore  can  be  sure  of  good  health. 

SARPI 

Say  to  my  dear  cousin  that  Senor  Avaloros  and  I  are  await- 
ing her  good  pleasure. 

AVALOROS 

Stay;  here  are  two  ducats  if  you  will  say  that  I  am  some- 
times pensive — 

PAQUITA 

I  will  say  that  your  tastes  are  expensive.    But  I  must  go 
and  induce  the  senora  to  dress  herself.     (Exit.) 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  225 

SCENE  SECOND. 
AVALOKOS  AND  SARPI. 

SARPI 
Poor  viceroy !    He  is  the  youngster. 

AVALOROS 

While  your  little  cousin  is  making  a  fool  of  him,  you  are 
displaying  all  the  activity  of  a  statesman  and  clearing  the 
way  for  the  king's  conquest  of  French  Navarre.  If  I  had  a 
daughter  I  would  give  her  to  you.  Old  Lothundiaz  is  no  fool. 

SARPI 

How  fine  it  would  be  to  be  founder  of  a  mighty  house ;  to 
win  a  name  in  the  history  of  the  country;  to  be  a  second 
Cardinal  Granville  or  Duke  of  Alva! 

AVALOROS 

Yes !  It  would  be  a  very  fine  thing.  I  also  think  of  making 
a  name.  The  emperor  made  the  Fuggers  princes  of  Baben- 
hausen;  the  title  cost  them  a  million  ducats  in  gold.  For 
my  part,  I  would  like  to  be  a  nobleman  at  a  cheaper  rate. 

SARPI 
You !    How  could  you  -accomplish  it  ? 

AVALOROS 

This  fellow  Fontanares  holds  the  future  of  commerce  in 
his  own  hands. 

SARPI 

And  is  it  possible  that  you  who  cling  so  persistently  to  the 
actual  have  any  faith  in  him  ?, 


226  RESOURCES  OF  QU1NOLA 

AVALOROS 

Since  the  invention  of  gunpowder,  of  printing  and  the  dis- 
covery of  the  new  world  I  have  become  credulous.  If  any  one 
were  to  tell  me  that  a  man  had  discovered  the  means  to  receive 
the  news  from  Paris  in  ten  minutes,  or  that  water  contained 
fire,  or  that  there  are  still  new  Indies  to  discover,  or  that  it  is 
possible  to  travel  through  the  air,  I  would  not  contradict  it, 
and  I  would  give — 

SAEPI 

Your  money? 

AVALOROS 

No ;  mv  attention  to  the  enterprise. 

SARPI 

If  the  vessel  is  made  to  move  in  the  manner  proposed,  you 
would  like  then  to  be  to  Fontanares  what  Amerigo  Vespucci 
was  to  Christopher  Columbus. 

AVALOROS 

Have  I  not  here  in  my  pocket  enough  to  pay  for  six  men 
of  genius  ? 

SARPI 

But  how  would  you  manage  the  matter  ? 

AVALOROS 

By  means  of  money;  money  is  the  great  secret.  With 
money  to  lose,  time  is  gained ;  and  with  time  to  spend,  every- 
thing is  possible ;  by  this  means  a  good  business  may  be  made 
a  bad  one,  and  while  those  who  control  it  are  in  despair  the 
whole  profit  may  be  carried  off  by  you.  Money, — that  is  the 
true  method.  Money  furnishes  the  satisfaction  of  desire,  as 
well  as  of  need.  In  a  man  of  genius,  there  is  always  a  child 
full  of  unpractical  fancies;  you  deal  with  the  man  and  you 
come  sooner  or  later  on  the  child ;  the  child  will  become  your 
debtor,  and  the  man  of  genius  will  go  to  prison. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  227 

SARPI 
And  how  do  you  stand  with  him  now  ? 

AVALOROS 

He  does  not  trust  my  offers;  that  is,  his  servant  does  not. 
I  shall  negotiate  with  the  servant. 

SARPI 

I  understand  you;  I  am  ordered  to  send  all  the  ships  of 
Barcelona  to  the  coasts  of  France ;  and,  through  the  prudence 
of  the  enemies  which  Fontanares  made  at  Valladolid,  this 
order  is  absolute  and  subsequent  to  the  king's  letter. 

AVALOROS 
What  do  you  want  to  get  out  of  the  deal? 

SARPI 

The  functions  of  the  Grand  Master  of  Naval  Construc- 
tion— these  I  wish  to  be  mine. 

AVALOROS 
But  what  is  your  ultimate  object  ? 

SARPI 
Glory. 

AVALOROS 
You  rascally  trickster ! 

SARPI 

You  greedy  extortioner! 

AVALOROS 

Let  us  hunt  together;  it  will  be  time  enough  to  quarrel 
when  we  come  to  the  division  of  the  prey.  Give  me  your 
hand.  (Aside)  I  am  the  stronger,  and  I  control  the  viceroj 
through  the  Brancadori. 


228  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

SARPI  (aside) 

We  have  fattened  him  sufficiently,  let  us  kill  him ;  I  know 
how  to  destroy  him. 

AVALOROS 

We  must  gain  over  this  Quinola  to  our  interests,  and  I  have 
sent  for  him  to  hold  a  conference  with  the  Brancadori. 


'SCENE  THIRD. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  QUINOLA. 

QUINOLA 

I  hang  like between  two  thieves.     But  these  thieves 

are  powdered  over  with  virtue  and  tricked  out  with  fine  man- 
ners.   And  they  would  like  to  hang  the  rest  of  us ! 

SARPI 

You  rogue,  while  you  are  waiting  for  your  master  to  propel 
the  galleys  by  new  methods,  you  ought  to  be  rowing  in  them 
yourself. 

QUINOLA 

The  king,  who  justly  appreciates  my  merits,  well  under- 
stands that  he  would  lose  too  much  by  such  an  arrangement. 

SARPI 
You  shall  be  watched ! 

QUINOLA 
That  I  can  well  believe,  for  I  keep  watch  on  myself. 

AVALOROS 

You  are  rousing  his  suspicions,  for  he  is  an  honest  lad. 
(To  Quinola)  Come,  my  good  fellow,  have  you  any  idea  of 
what  is  meant  by  wealth  ? 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  229 

QuiNOLA 
No,  for  I  have  seen  it  from  too  great  a  distance. 

AVALOROS 
Say,  such  a  sum  as  two  thousand  golden  doubloons? 

QUINOLA 

What  ?  I  do  not  know  what  you  mean !  You  dazzle  me. 
Is  there  such  a  sum?  Two  thousand  doubloons!  That 
means  to  be  a  land-holder,  to  own  a  house,  a  servant,  a  horse, 
a  wife,  an  income ;  to  be  protected  instead  of  being  chased  by 
the  Holy  Brotherhood ! — What  must  I  do  to  gain  it  ? 

AVALOROS 

You  must  assist  me  in  obtaining  a  contract  for  the  mutual 
advantage  of  your  master  and  myself. 

QUINOLA 

I  understand !  To  tangle  him  up.  0  my  conscience,  that 
is  very  fine !  But,  dear  conscience,  be  silent  for  a  while ;  let 
me  forget  you  for  a  few  days,  and  we  will  live  comfortably 
together  for  the  rest  of  my  life. 

AVALOROS  (to  Sarpi) 
We  have  him. 

SARPI  (to  Avaloros) 

He  is  fooling  us !  If  he  were  in  earnest  he  would  not  talk 
thus. 

QUINOLA 

I  suppose  you  won't  give  me  the  two  thousand  doubloons  in 
gold  until  after  the  treaty  has  been  signed  ? 

SARPI  (with  eagerness) 
You  can  have  it  before. 


230  RESOUKCES  OF  QUINOLA 

QUINOLA 

You  don't  mean  it !  (Holding  out  his  hand)  Give  it  me 
then. 

AVALOROS 

As  soon  as  you  sign  notes  of  hand  for  the  amounts  which 
have  already  matured. 

QUINOLA 

The  Grand  Turk  himself  never  offered  the  bowstring  with 
greater  delicacy. 

SAEPI 

Has  your  master  got  his  ship? 

QUINOLA 

Valladolid  is  at  some  distance  from  this,  I  admit;  hut  we 
control  in  that  city  a  pen  which  has  the  power  of  decreeing 
your  disgrace. 

SARPI 
I  will  grind  you  to  powder. 

QUINOLA 
I  will  make  myself  so  small  that  you  can't  do  it. 


QUINOLA 
To  talk  to  you  about  the  gold. 


SCENE  FOURTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  FAUSTINE  AND  PAQUITA. 

PAQUITA 
Gentlemen,  here  is  the  senora.     (Exit.) 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  231 

SCENE  FIFTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  WITH  THE  EXCEPTION  OF  PAQUITA. 

QUINOLA  (approaching  the  Brancadori) 

Sefiora,  my  master  talks  of  killing  himself  unless  he  can 
obtain  the  ship  which  Count  Sarpi  has  refused  for  thirty  days 
to  give  him;  Sefior  Avaloros  asks  for  his  life  while  offering 
him  his  purse;  do  you  understand?  (Aside)  A  woman  was 
our  salvation  at  Vallodolid;  the  women  shall  be  our  salvation 
at  Barcelona.  (Aloud)  He  is  very  despondent. 

AVALOROS 
The  wretched  man  seems  daring  enough. 

QUINOLA 

Daring  without  money  is  naturally  amazing  to  you. 

SARPI  (to  Quinola) 
Will  you  enter  my  service  ? 

QUINOLA 
I  am  too  set  in  my  ways  to  take  a  master. 

FAUSTINE  (aside) 

He  is  despondent!  (Aloud)  Why  is  it  that  men  like  yon, 
Sarpi  and  Avaloros,  for  whom  I  have  done  so  much,  should 
persecute,  instead  of  protecting,  the  poor  man  of  genius  who 
has  so  lately  arrived  among  us?  (Avaloros  and  Sarpi  are 
confused.)  I  cry  shame  upon  you  !  (To  Quinola)  You  must 
explain  to  me  exactly  their  schemes  against  you  master. 

SARPI  (to  Faustine) 
My  dear  cousin,  it  does  need  much  penetration  to  divine 


232  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

what  malady  it  is  under  which  you  have  labored  since  ths 
arrival  of  this  Fontanares. 

AVALOKOS  (to  Faustina) 

You  owe  me,  senora,  two  thousand  doubloons,  and  you  will 
need  to  draw  still  further  on  my  purse. 

FAUSTINE 
I  ?   What  have  I  ever  asked  of  you  ? 

AVALOROS 

Nothing,  but  you  never  refuse  anything  which  I  am  gen- 
erous enough  to  offer  you. 

FAUSTINB 
Your  monopoly  of  the  wheat  trade  is  a  monstrous  abuse. 

AVALOROS 
Senora,  I  owe  you  a  thousand  doubloons. 

FAUSTINE 

Write  me  at  once  a  receipt  for  the  two  thousand  doubloons, 
and  a  check  for  the  like  sum  which  I  do  not  intend  to  pay 
you.  (To  Sarpi)  After  having  put  you  in  the  position  in 
which  you  now  flourish,  I  warn  you  that  your  best  policy  is  to 
keep  my  secret. 

SARPI 

My  obligations  to  you  are  too  great  to  admit  of  my  being 
ungrateful. 

FAUSTINE  (aside) 

He  means  just  the  contrary,  and  he  will  make  the  viceroy 
furious  with  me.  (Exit  Sarpi.) 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  233 

SCENE  SIXTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  WITH  THE  EXCEPTION  OF  SAEPI. 

AVALOEOS 

Here  they  are,  senora.  (Handing  her  the  receipt  and  the 
check. ) 

FAUSTINE 
Very  good. 

AVALOEOS 
We  shall  still  be  friends  ? 

FAUSTINE 
Your  monopoly  of  the  wheat  trade  is  perfectly  legal. 

AVALOROS 
Ah !  senora. 

QUINOLA  (aside) 
That  is  what  is  called  doing  business. 

AVALOEOS 
Senora,  you  are  a  noble  creature,  and  I  am — 

QUINOLA  (aside) 
A  regular  swindler. 

FAUSTINE  (offering  the  check  to  Quinola) 
Here,  Quinola,  this  is  for  the  expenses  of  your  master's 
machine. 

AVALOROS  (to  Faustine) 

Don't  give  it  to  him,  senora,  he  may  keep  it  for  himself. 
And  for  other  reasons  you  should  be  prudent;  you  should 
wait — 

QUINOLA  (aside) 

I  pass  from  the  torrid  to  the  arctic  zone;  what  a  gamble  is 
life! 


234  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

FAUSTINE 

You  are  right.  (Aside)  Better  that  I  should  hold  in  a 
balance  the  fortune  of  Fontanares.  (To  Avaloros)  If  you 
wish  to  keep  your  monopoly  hold  your  tongue. 

AVALOROS 

There  is  nothing  keeps  a  secret  better  than  capital.  (Aside) 
These  women  are  disinterested  until  the  day  they  fall  in  love. 
I  must  try  to  defeat  her ;  she  is  beginning  to  cost  me  too  much. 
(Exit.) 


SCENE  SEVENTH. 
FAUSTINE  AND  QUINOLA. 

FAUSTINE 
Did  you  not  tell  me  he  was  despondent  ? 

QUINOLA 
Everything  is  against  him. 

FAUSTINE 
But  he  knows  how  to  wrestle  with  difficulties. 

QUINOLA 

We  have  been  for  two  years  half  drowned  in  difficulties; 
sometimes  we  have  gone  to  the  bottom  and  the  gravel  was 
pretty  hard. 

FAUSTINE 
But  what  force  of  character,  what  genius  he  has! 

QUINOLA 
You  see,  there,  seiiora,  the  effects  of  love. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  235 

FAUSTINE 
And  with  whom  is  he  in  love  now? 

QUINOLA 
Still  the  same — Marie  Lothundiaz. 

FAUSTINE 
A  doll! 

QUINOLA 
Yes,  nothing  but  a  doll ! 

FAUSTINE 
Men  of  talent  are  all  like  that. 

QUINOLA 
Colossal  creatures  with  feet  of  clay! 

FAUSTINE 

They  clothe  with  their  own  illusions  the  creature  that 
entangles  them;  they  love  their  own  creation;  they  are  ego- 
tists ! 

QUINOLA  (aside) 

Just  like  the  women !  (Aloud]  Listen,  senora,  I  wish 
that  by  some  honest  means  we  could  bury  this  doll  in  the 
depths  of  the — that  is — of  a  convent. 

FAUSTINE 
You  seem  to  me  to  be  a  fine  fellow. 

QUINOLA 
I  love  my  master. 

FAUSTINE 
Do  you  think  that  he  has  noticed  me  ? 


236  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

QUINOLA 

Not  yet. 

FAUSTINE 
Speak  to  him  of  me. 

QUINOLA 

But  then,  he  would  speak  to  me  by  breaking  a  stick  across 
my  back.  You  see,  seiiora,  that  girl — 

FAUSTINE 
That  girl  ought  to  be  forever  lost  to  him. 

QUINOLA 
But  he  would  die,  senora. 

FAUSTINE 
He  must  be  very  much  in  love  with  her. 

QUINOLA 

Ah !  that  is  not  my  fault !  All  the  way  here  from  Valladolid 
I  have  a  thousand  times  argued  the  point,  that  a  man  like  he 
ought  to  adore  women,  but  never  to  love  an  individual  woman ! 
Never — 

FAUSTINE 

You  are  a  pretty  worthless  rascal !  Go  and  tell  Lothundiaz 
to  come  and  speak  with  me  and  to  bring  his  daughter  with 
him.  (Aside)  She  shall  be  put  in  a  convent. 

QUINOLA  (aside) 

She  is  the  enemy.  She  loves  us  so  much  that  she  can't  help 
doing  us  a  great  deal  of  harm.  (Exit  Quinola.) 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  237 

SCENE  EIGHTH. 
FAUSTINE  AND  FEEGOSE. 

FEEGOSE. 

While  you  expect  the  master,  you  spend  your  time  in  cor- 
rupting the  servant. 

FAUSTINE 
Can  a  woman  ever  lose  her  habit  of  seduction  ? 

FREGOSE 

Senora,  you  are  ungenerous ;  I  should  think  that  a  patrician 
lady  of  Venice  would  know  how  to  spare  the  feelings  of  an  old 
soldier. 

FAUSTINE 

Come,  my  lord,  you  presume  more  upon  your  white  hair 
than  a  young  man  would  presume  upon  his  fairest  locks,  and 
you  find  in  them  a  stronger  argument  than  in — (She  laughs). 
Let  me  have  no  more  of  this  petulance. 

FEEGOSE 

How  can  I  be  otherwise  than  vexed  when  you  compromise 
yourself  thus,  you,  whom  I  wish  to  be  my  wife  ?  Is  it  nothing 
to  have  a  chance  of  bearing  one  of  the  noblest  of  names  ? 

FAUSTINE 
Do  you  think  it  is  too  noble  for  a  Brancadori  ? 

FREGOSE 
Yet,  you  would  prefer  stooping    to  a  Fontanares ! 

FAUSTINE 

But  what  if  he  could  raise  himself  as  high  as  to  a  Branca- 
dori? That  would  be  a  proof  of  love  indeed!  Besides,  as 
you  know  from  your  own  experience,  love  never  reasons. 


238  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

FREGOSE 
Ah!    You  acknowledge  that! 

FAUSTINE 

Your  friendship  to  me  is  so  great  that  you  have  been  the 
first  to  learn  my  secret. 

FREGOSE 

Senora !  Yes,  love  is  madness !  I  have  surrendered  to  you 
more  than  myself !  Alas,  I  wish  I  had  the  world  to  offer  you. 
You  evidently  are  not  aware  that  your  picture  gallery  alone 
cost  me  almost  all  my  fortune. 

FAUSTINE 
Paquita ! 

FREGOSE 
And  that  I  would  surrender  to  you  even  my  honor. 


SCENE  NINTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  PAQUITA. 

FAUSTINE  (to  Paquita) 

Tell  my  steward  that  the  pictures  of  my  gallery  must  imme- 
diately be  carried  to  the  house  of  Don  Fregose. 

FREGOSE 
Paquita,  do  not  deliver  that  order. 

FAUSTINE 

The  other  day,  they  tell  .me,  the  Queen  Catherine  de 
Medici  sent  an  order  to  Diana  of  Poitiers  to  deliver  up  what 
jewels  she  had  received  from  Henry  II. ;  Diana  sent  them 
back  melted  into  an  ingot.  Paquita,  fetch  the  jeweler. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  239 

FEEGOSE 

You  will  do  nothing  of  the  kind,  but  leave  the  room.  (Exit 
Paquita.) 


SCENE  TENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  WITH  THE  EXCEPTION  OF  PAQUITA. 

FAUSTINE 

As  I  am  not  yet  the  Marchioness  of  Fregose,  how  dare  you 
give  your  orders  in  my  house  ? 

FREGOSE 

I  am  quite  aware  of  the  fact  that  here  it  is  my  duty  to 
receive  them.  But  is  my  whole  fortune  worth  one  word  from 
you?  Forgive  an  impulse  of  despair. 

FAUSTINE 

One  ought  to  be  a  gentleman,  even  in  despair ;  and  in  your 
despair  you  treat  Faustine  as  a  courtesan.  Ah!  you  wish  to 
be  adored,  but  the  vilest  Venetian  woman  would  tell  you  that 
this  costs  dear. 

FREGOSE 

I  have  deserved  this  terrible  outburst. 

FAUSTINE 

You  say  you  love  me.  Love  me  ?  Love  is  self-devotion  with- 
out the  hope  of  recompense.  Love  is  the  wish  to  live  in  the 
light  of  a  sun  which  the  lover  trembles  to  approach.  Do  not 
deck  out  your  egotism  in  the  lustre  of  genuine  love.  A  mar- 
ried woman,  Laura  de  Nova,  said  to  Petrarch,  "You  are  mine, 
without  hope — live  on  without  love."  But  when  Italy  crowned 
the  poet  she  crowned  also  his  sublime  love,  and  centuries  to 
come  shall  echo  with  admiration  to  the  names  of  Laura  and 
Petrarch. 


240  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

FREGOSB 

There  are  very  many  poets  'whom  I  dislike,  but  the  man 
you  mention  is  the  object  of  my  abomination.  To  the  end 
of  the  world  women  will  throw  him  in  the  face  of  those  lovers 
whom  they  wish  to  keep  without  taking. 

FAUSTINE 
You  are  called  general,  but  you  are  nothing  but  a  soldier. 

FREGOSE 
Indeed,  and  bow  then  shall  I  imitate  this  cursed  Petrarch  ? 

FAUSTINE 

If  you  say  yon  love  me,  you  will  ward  off  from  a  man  of 
genius — (Don  Fregose  starts} — yes,  there  are  such — the  mar- 
tyrdom which  his  inferiors  a^e  preparing  for  him.  Show 
yourself  great,  assist  him !  I  know  it  will  give  you  pain,  but 
assist  him;  then  I  shall  believe  you  love  me,  and  you  will  be- 
come more  illustrious,  in  my  sight  at  least,  by  this  act  of 
generosity  than  by  your  capture  of  Mantua. 

FREGOSE 

Here,  in  your  presence,  I  feel  capable  of  anything,  but  you 
cannot  dream  of  the  tempest  which  will  fall  upon  my  head,  if 
I  obey  your  word. 

FAUSTINE 

Ah !  you  shrink  from  obeying  me  I 

FREGOSE 
Protect  him,  admire  him,  if  you  like ;  but  do  not  love  him ! 

FAUSTINE 

The  ship  given  him  by  the  king  has  been  held  back;  you 
can  restore  it  to  him,  in  a  moment. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  241 

FREGOSE- 
And  I  will  send  him  to  give  you  the  thanks. 

FAUSTINE 
Do  it !  and  learn  how  much  I  love  you.   (Exit  Don  Fregose.) 


SCENE  ELEVENTH. 

FAUSTINE  (alone) 
And  yet  so  many  women  wish  that  they  were  men. 


SCENE  TWELFTH. 
FAUSTINE,  PAQUITA,  LOTHUNDIAZ  AND  MARIE. 

PAQUITA 

Senora,  here  are  Senor  Lothundiaz  and  his  daughter.   (Exit 
Paquita.) 


SCENE  THIRTEENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  EXCEPTING  PAQUITA. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 
Ah !  senora,  you  have  turned  my  palace  into  a  kingdom ! — 

FAUSTINE  (to  Marie) 

My    child,    seat    yourself  by    me.      (To  Lothundiaz)    Be 
seated. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

You  are  very  kind,  senora;  but  permit  me  to  go  and  see 


242  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

that  famous  gallery,  which  is  spoken  of  throughout  Catalonia. 
(Faustine  bows  assent  and  Lothundiaz  leaves  the  room.) 


SCENE  FOURTEENTH. 
FAUSTINE  AND  MARIE. 

FAUSTINE 

My  child,  I  love  you  and  have  learned  of  the  position  in 
which  you  stand.  Your  father  wishes  you  to  marry  my  cousin 
Sarpi,  while  you  are  in  love  with  Fontanares. 

MARIE 
And  have  been  for  five  years,  seriora. 

FAUSTINE 
At  sixteen  one  knows  not  what  it  is  to  love. 

MARIE 
What  does  that  matter,  if  I  love  him? 

FAUSTINE 
With  us,  sweet  girl,  love  is  but  self-devotion. 

MARIE 
I  will  devote  myself  to  him,  seriora. 

FAUSTINE 

What!  Would  you  give  him  up  if  that  were  for  his  in- 
terest? 

MARIE 
That  would  be  to  die,  but  yet  my  life  is  wholly  his. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  243 

FAUSTINE  (aside  as  she  rises  from  her  seat) 

What  strength  in  weakness  and  innocence!  (Aloud)  You 
have  never  left  your  father's  house,  you  know  nothing  of  the 
world  nor  of  its  hardships,  which  are  terrible !  A  man  often 
dies  from  having  met  with  a  woman  who  loves  him  too  much, 
or  one  who  loves  him  not  at  all;  Fontanares  may  find  him- 
self in  this  situation.  He  has  powerful  enemies;  his  glory, 
which  is  all  he  lives  for,  is  in  their  hands;  you  may  disarm 
them. 

MARIE 

What  must  I  do? 

FAUSTINE 

By  marrying  Sarpi,  you  will  assure  the  triumph  of  your 
dear  Fontanares;  but  no  woman  would  counsel  such  a  sacri- 
fice; it  must  come,  it  will  come  from  you.  At  first  you  must 
dissemble.  Leave  Barcelona  for  a  time.  Retire  to  a  con- 
vent. 

MARIE 

And  never  see  him  again?  Ah!  If  you  knew — he  passes 
every  day  at  a  certain  hour  under  my  windows,  and  that  hour 
is  all  the  day  to  me. 

FAUSTINE  (aside) 

She  stabs  me  to  the  heart !  Oh !  She  shall  be  Countess 
Sarpi. 


SCENE  FIFTEENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  FONTANARES. 

FONTANARES  (to  Faustine) 
Senora.     (He  kisses  her  hand.) 

MARIE  (aside) 
What  a  pang  I  feel ! 


244  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

FONTANARES 

Shall  I  live  long  enough  to  testify  my  gratitude  to  you? 
If  I  achieve  anything,  if  I  make  a  name,  if  I  attain  to  happi- 
ness, it  will  be  through  you. 

FAUSTINE 

Why  that  is  nothing!  I  merely  tried  to  smooth  the  way 
for  you.  I  feel  such  pity  for  men  of  talent  in  misfortune  that 
you  may  ever  count  upon  my  help.  Yes,  I  would  go  so  far  as 
to  be  the  mere  stepping-stone  over  which  you  might  climb  to 
your  crown. 

MARIE  (drawing  Fontanares  by  his  mantle) 
But  I  am  here,  I  (he  turns  around),  and  you  never  saw  me. 

FONTANARES 

Marie !  I  have  not  spoken  to  you  for  ten  days !  ( To  Faus- 
tine)  Oh !  senora,  what  an  angel  you  are ! 

MARIE  (to  Fontanares) 

Rather  say  a  demon.  (Aloud)  The  senora  was  advising  me 
to  retire  to  a  convent. 

She! 

Yes. 

FAUSTINE 
Children  that  you  are,  that  course  were  best. 

FONTANARES 

I  trip  up,  it  seems,  on  one  snare  after  another,  and  kindness 
ever  conceals  a  pitfall.  (To  Marie)  But  tell  me  who  brought 
you  here  ? 

MARIE 
My  father ! 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  245 

FONTANARES 

He !    Is  he  blind.  ?    You,  Marie,  in  this  house ! 

FAUSTINE 
Sir!— 

FONTANARES 

To  a  convent  indeed,  that  she  might  dominate  her  spirit, 
and  torture  her  soul! 


SCENE  SIXTEENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  LOTHUNDIAZ. 

FONTANARES 

And  it  was  you  who  brought  this  angel  of  purity  to  the 
house  of  a  woman  for  whom  Don  Fregose  is  wasting  his  for- 
tune and  who  accepts  from  him  the  most  extravagant  gifts 
without  marrying  him  ? — 

FAUSTINE 
Sir!— 

FONTANARES 

You  came  here,  senora,  widow  of  a  cadet  of  the  house  of 
Brancadori,  to  whom  you  sacrificed  the  small  fortune  your 
father  gave  you ;  but  here  you  have  utterly  changed — 

FAUSTINE 
What  right  have  you  to  judge  my  actions  ? 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

Keep  silence,  sir;  the  senora  is  a  high  born  lady,  who  has 
doubled  the  value  of  my  palace. 


246  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

FONTANAKES 

She !  why  she  is  a 

FAUSTINE 
Silence ! 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

My  daughter,  this  is  your  man  of  genius !  extreme  in  every- 
thing, but  leaning  rather  to  madness  than  good  sense.  Senor 
Mechination,  the  senora  is  the  cousin  and  protector  of  Sarpi. 

FONTANARES 

Well,  take  your  daughter  away  from  the  house  of  the  Mar- 
chioness of  Mondejar  of  Catalonia.  (Exeunt  Lothund'iaz  and 
Marie.) 


SCENE  SEVENTEENTH. 
FAUSTINE  AND  FONTANAKES. 

FONTANAEES 

So,  senora,  your  generosity  was  merely  a  trick  to  serve  the 
interests  of  Sarpi!  We  are  quits  then!-  And  so  farewell. 
(Exit.) 


SCENE  EIGHTEENTH. 
FAUSTINE  AND  PAQUITA. 

FAUSTINE 
How  handsome  he  looked  in  his  rage,  Paquita ! 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  247 

PAQUITA 

Ah !  senora,  what  will  become  of  you  if  you  love  him  in  this 
way? 

FAUSTINE 

My  child,  I  feel  that  I  have  never  loved  before,  and  in  an 
instant  I  have  been  transformed  as  by  a  stroke  of  lightning. 
In  one  moment  I  have  loved  for  all  lost  time !  Perhaps  I  have 
set  my  foot  upon  the  path  which  leads  to  an  abyss.  Send  one 
of  my  servants  to  the  house  of  Mathieu  Magis,  the  Lombard. 
(Exit  Paquita.) 


SCENE  NINETEENTH. 

FAUSTINE  (alone) 

I  already  love  him  too  much  to  trust  my  vengeance  to  the 
stiletto  of  Monipodio,  for  he  has  treated  me  with  such  con- 
tempt that  I  must  bring  him  to  believe  that  the  greatest  honor 
he  could  win  would  be  to  have  me  for  his  wife !  I  wish  to  see 
him  groveling  at  my  feet,  or  I  will  perish  in  the  attempt  to 
bring  him  there. 


SCENE  TWENTIETH. 
FAUSTINE  AND  FREGOSE. 

FREQOSE 

What  is  this  ?  I  thought  to  find  Fontanares  here,  happy  in 
the  possession  of  the  ship  you  gained  for  him. 

FAUSTINE 

You  have  given  it  to  him  then,  and  I  suppose  hate  him  no 
longer.  I  thought  the  sacrifice  would  be  above  your  strength, 
and  wished  to  know  if  hate  were  stronger  than  obedience. 


248  KESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

FREGOSE 
Ah !  senora — 

FAUSTINE 

Could  you  take  it  back  again  ? 

FREGOSE 

Whether  obedient  or  disobedient,  I  cannot  please  you.  Good 
heavens !  Take  back  the  ship  !  Why,  it  is  crowded  with  arti- 
sans who  are  its  masters. 


FREGOSE 
His  death? 

FAUSTINE 
No,  but  his  disgrace. 

FREGOSE 

And  in  that  I  shall  avenge  myself  for  a  whole  month  of 
anguish. 

FAUSTINE 

Take  care  to  keep  your  hands  off  what  is  my  prey.  And 
first  of  all,  Don  Fregose,  take  back  your  pictures  from  my  gal- 
lery. (Don  Fregose  shows  astonishment.}  It  is  my  will. 

FREGOSE 

You  refuse  then  to  be  marchioness  of — 

i 
i 

FAUSTINE 

They  shall  be  burned  upon  the  public  square  or  sold,  and 
the  price  given  to  the  poor. 

FREGOSE 
Tell  me,  what  is  your  reason  for  this? 


RESOUECES  OF  QUINOLA  249 

FAUSTINE 
I  thirst  for  honor  and  you  have  ruined  mine. 

FEEGOSE 
Accept  my  name  and  all  will  be  well. 

FAUSTINE 
Leave  me,  I  pray  you. 

FREGOSE 
The  more  power  you  have,  the  more  you  abuse  it.     (Exit.) 


SCENE  TWENTY-FIRST. 

FAUSTINE  (alone) 

So,  so !  I  am  nothing  then  but  the  viceroy's  mistress !  He 
might  as  well  have  said  as  much !  But  with  the  aid  of  Aval- 
oros  and  Sarpi  I  intend  to  have  a  pretty  revenge — one  worthy 
of  old  Venice! 


SCENE  TWENTY-SECOND. 
FAUSTINE  AND  MATHIEU  MAGIS. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 
I  am  told  the  senora  has  need  of  my  poor  services. 

FAUSTINE 
Pray  tell  me,  who  are  you? 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 
Mathieu  Magis,  a  poor  Lombard  of  Milan,  at  your  service. 


250  RESOURCES  OF  QU1NOLA 

FAUSTINE 
You  lend  money? 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 

I  lend  it  on  good  security — diamonds  or  gold — a  very  poor 
business.  Our  losses  are  overwhelming,  senora.  And  at  pres- 
ent money  seems  actually  to  be  asleep.  The  raising  of  mar- 
avedis  is  the  hardest  of  farm-labor.  One  unfortunate  deal 
carries  off  the  profits  of  ten  lucky  strokes,  for  we  risk  a  thou- 
sand doubloons  in  the  hands  of  a  prodigal  for  three  hundred 
doubloons  profit.  The  world  is  very  unjust  to  us. 

FAUSTINE 
Are  you  a  Jew? 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 
In  what  sense  do  you  mean  ? 

FAUSTINE 
In  religion. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 
I  am  a  Lombard  and  a  Catholic,  senora. 

FAUSTINE 
You  disappoint  me. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 
Senora  would  have  wished — 

FAUSTINE 

I  would  have  wished  that  you  were  in  the  clutches  of  the 
Inquisition. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 
Why  so? 

FAUSTINE 
That  I  might  be  certain  of  your  fidelity. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  251 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 
I  keep  many  secrets  in  my  strong  box,  senora. 

FAUSTINE 
If  I  had  your  fortune  in  my  power — 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 
You  would  have  my  soul. 

FAUSTINE  (aside) 

The  only  way  to  gain  this  man's  adherence  is  by  appealing 
to  his  self-interest,  that  is  plain.  (Aloud)  You  lend — 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 
At  twenty  per  cent. 

FAUSTINE 

You  don't  understand  what  I  mean.  Listen ;  you  are  lend- 
ing the  use  of  your  name  to  Senor  Avaloros. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 

I  know  Senor  Avaloros.  He  is  a  banker;  we  do  some  busi- 
ness together,  but  his  name  in  the  city  stands  too  high  and 
his  credit  in  the  Mediterranean  is  too  sound  for  him  to  need 
the  help  of  poor  Mathieu  Magis — 

FAUSTINE 

I  see,  Lombard,  you  are  very  cautious.  If  you  wish  to  lend 
your  name  to  promote  an  important  business  undertaking — 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 
Is  it  smuggling? 

FAUSTINE 

What  difference  does  it  make  ?  The  question  is,  what  would 
guarantee  your  absolute  silence? 


252  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 
High  profit. 

FAUSTINE  (aside) 

This  is  a  rare  hunting  dog.  (Aloud)  Very  well,  I  am 
going  to  entrust  you  with  a  secret  of  life  and  death,  for  I  pur- 
pose giving  up  to  you  a  great  man  to  devour. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 

My  small  business  feeds  on  the  great  passions  of  life; 
(aside)  where  there  is  a  fine  woman,  there  is  fine  profit. 

Curtain  to  the  Second  Act. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  253 


ACT  III. 


SCENE  FIRST. 

(The  stage  setting  is  the  interior  of  a  stable.  Overhead 
are  piles  of  hay;  along  the  walls  are  wheels,  tubes,  shafts,  a 
long  copper  chimney,,  a  huge  boiler.  To  the  left  of  the  specta- 
tor the  Madonna  is  sculptured  on  a  pillar.  To  the  right  is  a 
table  strewn  with  paper  and  mathematical  instruments.  Above 
the  table  hangs  on  the  wall  a  blackboard  covered  with  figures; 
by  the  side  of  the  table  is  a  shelf  on  which  are  onions,  a  water 
crock  and  a  loaf.  To  the  right  of  the  spectator  is  a  wide  door, 
and  to  the  left,  a  door  opening  on  the  fields.  A  straw  bed  lies 
by  the  side  of  the  pillar  at  the  feet  of  the  Madonna.  It  is 
night-time.) 

FONTANARES  AND  QtJINOLA. 

(Fontanares,  in  a  black  robe  girded  by  a  leathern  belt,  works 

at  his  table.     Quinola  is  checking  off  the 

various   parts   of   the   machine.) 

QUINOLA 

Though  you  wouldn't  think  it,  senor,  I  also  have  been  in 
love !  Only  when  I  have  once  understood  the  woman,  I  have 
always  bade  her  good-b\e.  A  full  pot  and  bottle,  ah !  these 
never  betray,  and  moreover,  you  grow  fat  on  them.  (He 
glances  at  his  master.)  Pshaw!  He  doesn't  even  hear  me. 
There  are  three  more  pieces  ready  for  the  forge.  (He  opens 
the  door.)  Here  is  Monipodio! 


254  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

SCENE  SECOND. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  MONIPODIO. 

QUINOLA 

The  last  three  pieces  have  come  in.  Bring  the  models  and 
make  duplicates  of  them,  as  a  provision  against  accident. 
(Monipodio  beckons  to  him  from  the  passage;  two  men  make 
their  appearance.) 

MONIPODIO 

Carry  these  away,  hoys,  and  not  a  sound !  Vanish  like  spec- 
tres. This  is  worse  than  theft.  (To  Quinola)  He  is  dead  and 
buried  in  his  work 

QUINOLA 

He  suspects  nothing  as  yet. 

MONIPODIO 

Neither  they  nor  -any  one  else  suspect  us.  Each  piece  is 
wrapped  up  like  a  jewel  and  hidden  in  a  cellar.  But  we  need 
thirty  ducats. 

QUINOLA 

Zounds ! 

MONIPODIO 

Thirty  rascals  built  like  those  fellows  eat  as  much  as  sixty 
ordinary  men. 

QUINOLA 
Quinola  and  Company  have  failed,  and  I  am  a  fugitive ! 

MONIPODIO 

From  protests? 

QUINOLA 

Stupid!  They  want  me  bodily.  Fortunately,  I  have  two 
or  thre°  suits  of  old  clothes  which  may  serve  to  deliver  Quinola 


RESOURCES  OF  QUIftOLA  255 

from  the  clutches  of  the  keenest  sleuths,  until  I  can  make 
payment. 

MONIPODIO 
Payment?    That  is  folly. 

QUINOLA 

Yes,  I  have  kept  a  little  nest-egg  against  our  thirst.  Put 
on  that  ragbag  of  the  begging  friar  and  go  to  Lothundiaz  and 
have  a  talk  with  the  duenna. 

MONIPODIO 

Alas !  Lopez  has  returned  from  Algeria  so  often  that  our 
dear  duenna  begins  to  suspect  us. 

QUINOLA 

I  merely  wish  her  to  carry  this  letter  to  Senorita  Marie 
Lothundiaz  (handing  a  letter).  It  is  a  masterpiece  of  elo- 
quence, inspired  by  that  which  inspires  all  masterpieces. 
See !  we  have  been  living  for  ten  days  on  bread  and  water. 

MONIPODIO 

And  what  could  we  look  for?  To  eat  ortolans?  If  our 
men  had  expected  fine  fare  they  would  have  struck  long  ago. 

QUINOLA 

If  love  would  only  cash  my  note  of  hand,  we  might  still  get 
but  of  this  hole.  (Exit  Monipodio.) 


SCENE  THIRD. 
QUINOLA  AND  FONTANARES. 

QUINOLA  (rubbing  an  onion  into  his  bread) 
This  is  the  way  we  are  told  the  Egyptian  pyramid-builders 


256  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

were  fed,  but  they  must  also  have  had  the  sauce  which  gives 
us  an  appetite,  and  that  is  faith.  (Drinks  water.)  You  don't 
appear  to  be  hungry,  senor?  Take  care  that  the  machine 
in  your  head  doesn't  go  wrong ! 

FONTANARES 

I  am  nearing  the  final  solution — 

QUINOLA  (whose  sleeve  splits  up  as  he  puts  back  the  crock} 
And  I  have  found  one  in  the  continuity  of  my  sleeve.     In 
this  trade  my  clothes  are  becoming  as  uncertain  as  an  un- 
known quantity  in  algebra. 

FONTANARES 

You  are  a  fine  fellow !    Always  merry,  even  in  the  depths 
of  misfortune. 

QUINOLA 

And  why  not,  gadzooks !    Fortune  loves  the  merry  almost 
as  much  as  the  merry  love  her. 


SCENE  FOURTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  MATHIEU  MAGIS. 

QUINOLA 

Ah  !  Here  comes  our  dear  Lombard ;  he  looks  at  all  these 
pieces  of  machinery  as  if  they  were  already  his  lawful 
property. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 
I  am  your  most  humble  servant,  my  dear  Senor  Fontanaret, 

QUINOLA 
This  is  he,  polished,  dry,  cold  as  marble. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  257 

FONTANARES 

Good-day,  Senor  Magis.    (Cuts  himself  a  piece  of  bread.) 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 

You  are  a  sublime  hero,  and  as  far  as  I  am  concerned,  I 
wish  you  all  sorts  of  good  luck. 

FONTANARES 

And  is  this  the  reason  why  you  try  to  bring  upon  me  all 
sorts  of  bad  luck  ? 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 

You  snap  me  up  very  sharply ;  you  do  wrong,  you  forget  that 
in  me  there  are  two  men. 

FONTANARES 
I  have  never  seen  the  other. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 
I  have  a  heart,  away  from  my  business. 

FONTANARES 
But  you  are  never  away  from  your  business. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 

I  am  always  filled  with  admiration  at  the  sight  of  your 
struggle. 

FONTANARES 

Admiration  is  the  passion  which  is  the  most  easily  ex- 
hausted. Moreover,  you  never  make  any  loans  on  sentiment. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 

There  are  some  sentiments  which  bring  profit,  while  others 
cause  ruin.  You  are  animated  by  faith ;  that  is  very  fine,  but 
it  is  ruinous.  We  made  six  months  ago  certain  little  agree- 


258  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

ments;  you  asked  of  me  three  thousand  ducats  for  your 
experiments — 

QUINOLA 

On  the  condition,  that  you  were  to  receive  five  thousand 
in  return. 

FONTANAEES 

Well? 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 

The  payment  was  due  two  months  ago. 

FONTANABES 

You  demanded  it  by  legal  process  two  months  ago,  the 
very  next  day  after  it  was  due. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 

I  did  it  without  thought  of  annoying  you,  merely  as  a 
formality. 

FONTANAEES 
And  what  do  you  want  now? 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 
You  are  to-day  my  debtor. 

FONTANAEES 

Eight  months  gone  already  ?  It  has  passed  like  a  dream ! 
And  I  was  proposing  to  myself  this  evening  the  solution  of 
the  problem  how  to  introduce  cold  water,  so  as  to  dissolve 
the  steam !  Magis,  my  dear  friend,  assist  me  in  this  matter, 
be  my  protector,  and  give  me  a  few  days  more  ? 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 
As  many  as  you  desire. 

QUINOLA 
Do  you  mean  it  ?    This  is  the  first  appearance  of  the  other 


RESOUKCES  OF  QUINOLA  259 

3ian.  (To  Fontanares)  Senor,  I  shall  make  this  gentleman 
my  friend.  (To  Magis)  I  appeal  to  the  two  Magises  and  ask 
if  they  will  give  us  the  sight  of  a  few  doubloons! 

FONTANARES 
Ah!  I  begin  to  breathe  freely. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 

That  can  easily  be  managed.  I  am  to-day  not  merely  your 
money-lender,  I  am  money-lender  and  co-proprietor,  and  I 
wish  to  draw  out  my  share  in  the  property. 

QUINOLA 
Double  man,  and  triple  dog! 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 
Capital  has  nothing  to  do  with  faith — 

QUINOLA 

Or  with  hope  and  charity ;  crowns  are  not  Catholics. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 

When  a  man  comes  and  asks  us  to  discount  a  bill,  we  cannot 
gay :  "Wait  a  bit ;  we  have  a  man  of  genius  at  work  trying  to 
find  a  gold  mine  in  a  garret  or  a  stable !"  No,  indeed !  Why 
in  six  months  I  could  have  doubled  those  ducats  over  again. 
Besides,  senor,  I  have  a  small  family. 

FONTANARES  (to  Quinola) 
That  creature  has  a  wife ! 

QUINOLA 

Yes,  and  if  she  brings  forth  young  they  will  eat  up  Cata- 
lonia. 


260  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 
I  have  heavy  expenses. 

FONTANARES 

You  see  how  I  live. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 

Ah!  If  I  were  rich,  I  would  lend  you  (Quinola  holds  out 
his  hands)  the  wherewith  to  live  better. 

FONTANARES 

Wait  fifteen  days  longer. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS  (aside) 

This  cuts  me  to  the  heart.  If  the  matter  concerned  only 
myself  I  would  perhaps  let  it  go;  but  I  must  earn  what  has 
been  promised  me,  which  is  to  be  my  daughter's  dowry. 
(Aloud)  Now  really,  I  have  a  great  regard  for  you,  you 
please  me  immensely — 

QUINOLA  (aside) 
To  think  that  it  would  be  a  crime  to  strangle  him ! 

i 

FONTANARES 

You  are  of  iron;  I  shall  show  myself  as  hard  as  steel. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 
What  do  you  mean,  senor  ? 

FONTANARES 
You  shall  help  me,  whether  you  would  or  not. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 

I  will  not !  I  want  my  capital !  And  would  think  nothing 
of  seizing  and  selling  all  this  iron  work. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  261 

FONTANARES 

You  compel  me  to  meet  trick  with  trick.  I  was  proceeding 
with  my  work  honestly ! — Now,  if  necessary,  following  your 
example,  I  shall  leave  the  straight  path.  I  shall  be  of  course 
accused,  as  if  perfection  could  be  expected  of  me.  But  I  do 
not  mind  calumny.  But  to  have  this  cup  to  drink  is  too 
much.  You  made  a  senseless  contract  with  me,  you  now 
shall  sign  another,  or  you  will  see  me  dash  my  work  to  frag- 
ments, and  keep  my  secret  buried  here.  (He  strikes  his  hand 
on  his  heart.) 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 

Ah!  senor,  you  will  not  do  that.  That  would  be  theft,  a 
piece  of  rascality  of  which  a  great  man  is  incapable. 

FONTANARES 

You  seize  upon  my  integrity  as  a  weapon  by  which  you 
would  insure  the  success  of  monstrous  injustice. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 

Listen,  I  wish  to  have  nothing  to  do  with  this  matter,  and 
if  you  will  come  to  an  understanding  with  Don  Kamon,  a 
most  excellent  man,  I  will  yield  all  my  rights  to  him. 

FONTANARES 

Don  Eamon? 

QUINOLA 

Yes,  the  philosopher  whom  all  Barcelona  sets  up  in  oppo- 
sition to  you. 

FONTANARES 

After  all,  I  have  solved  the  last  problem,  and  glory  and 
fortune  will  attend  the  future  current  of  my  life. 

QUINOLA 

Your  words  seem  to  indicate  that  there  is  still  a  part  to  be 
supplied  in  the  machinery. 


262  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

FONTANARES 

A  trifle — a  matter  of  some  hundred  ducats. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 

Such  a  sum  could  not  be  raised  from  all  that  you  have  here, 
if  it  were  sold  by  authority  of  government,  counting  the  costs. 

QUINOLA 
Carrion !    Will  you  get  out  ? 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 

If  you  humor  Don  Ramon,  he  doubtless  will  be  willing  to 
give  you  the  assistance  of  his  credit.  (Turns  to  Quinola)  As 
for  you,  gallows-bird,  if  ever  you  fall  into  my  hands,  I  will 
get  even  with  you.  (  To  Fontanares)  Good-bye,  man  of  genius. 
(Exit.) 


SCENE  FIFTH. 
FONTANARES  AND  QUINOLA. 

FONTANARES 
His  words  make  me  shudder. 

QUINOLA 

And  me  also !  The  good  ideas  of  genius  are  always  caught 
in  the  webs  of  such  spiders  as  he. 

FONTANARES 

Well,  if  only  we  can  get  a  hundred  ducats  more,  from  that 
time  forth  we  shall  have  a  golden  life  filled  with  the  banquets 
of  love.  (He  takes  a  drink  of  water.) 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  263 

QUINOLA 

I  quite  believe  you,  but  confess  that  blooming  hope,  that 
heavenly  jade,  has  led  us  on  pretty  deep  into  the  mire. 

FONTANARES 

Quinola ! 

QUINOLA 

I  do  not  complain  for  myself,  I  was  born  to  trouble.  The 
question  is,  how  are  we  to  get  the  hundred  ducats.  You  are 
in  debt  to  the  workmen,  to  the  master  locksmith  Carpano, 
to  Coppolus  the  dealer  in  iron,  steel  and  copper,  and  to  our 
landlord,  who  after  taking  us  in,  more  from  fear  of  Moni- 
podio  than  from  compassion,  will  end  by  turning  us  out  of 
doors ;  we  owe  him  for  nine  months'  board  and  lodging. 

FONTANARES 

But  the  work  is  all  but  finished. 

QUINOLA 
But  what  of  the  hundred  ducats  ? 

FONTANAEES 

How  is  it  that  you,  usually  so  brave  and  merry,  begin  now 
to  speak  to  me  in  such  a  dolorous  tone  ? 

QUINOLA 

It  is  because,  as  a  means  of  remaining  at  your  side,  I  shall 
be  obliged  to  disappear. 

FONTANARES 
And  why  ? 

QUINOLA 

Why?  Pray  what  are  we  to  do  about  the  sheriff?  I  have 
incurred,  for  you  and  for  myself,  trade  debts  to  the  amount 
of  a  hundred  doubloons ;  and  lo !  these  debts  take,  to  my  mind, 
the  figure,  face  and  feet  of  tipstaves! 


264  RESOURCES  OF  QU1NOLA 

FONTANARES 

How  much  unhappiness  is  comprised  in  the  term  glory! 

QUINOLA 

Come!  Do  not  be  downcast.  Did  you  not  tell  me  that 
your  grandfather  went,  some  fifty  years  ago,  with  Cortez,  to 
Mexico ;  has  he  ever  been  heard  of  ? 

FONTANARES  ' 

Never. 

QUINOLA 

Don't  forget  you  have  a  grandfather !  You  will  be  enabled 
to  continue  your  work,  until  you  reach  the  day  of  your  tri- 
umph. 

FONTANARES 

Do  you  wish  to  ruin  me? 

QUINOLA 

Do  you  wish  to  see  me  go  to  prison  and  your  machine  to  the 
devil? 

FONTANARES 
I  do  not. 

QUINOLA 

Permit  me  then  to  bring  about  the  return  of  this  grand- 
father ?  He  will  be  the  first  of  his  company  to  return  from  the 
West  Indies. 


SCENE  SIXTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  MONIPODIO. 

QUINOLA 
How  goes  it  ? 

MONIPODIO 
Your  princess  has  received  her  letter. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  265 

FONTANARES 

What  kind  of  a  man  is  this  Don  Ramon? 

MONIPODIO 

He  is  an  ass. 

QUINOLA 
Is  he  envious? 

MONIPODIO 

As  three  rejected  play-writers.  He  makes  himself  out  to 
be  a  wonderful  man. 

QUINOLA 
But  does  any  one  believe  him  ? 

MONIPODIO 

They  look  upon  him  as  an  oracle.  He  scribbles  off  his 
treatises,  explaining  that  the  snow  is  white  because  it  falls 
from  heaven,  and  he  maintains,  in  contradiction  to  Galileo, 
that  the  earth  does  not  move. 

QUINOLA 

Do  you  not  plainly  see,  senor,  that  I  must  rid  you  of  this 
philosopher?  (To  Monipodio)  You  come  with  me;  you 
must  be  my  servant.  (Exeunt.) 


SCENE  SEVENTH. 

FONTANARES  (alone) 

What  brain,  even  though  it  be  encased  in  bronze,  could 
stand  the  strain  of  this  search  after  money,  while  also  making 
an  inquiry  into  the  most  jealously  guarded  secrets  of  nature  ? 
How  can  the  mind,  engaged  in  such  quests,  have  time  for  dis- 
trusting men,  fighting  them,  and  combining  others  against 
them  ?  It  is  no  easy  thing  to  see  at  once  what  course  had  best 
be  taken,  in  order  to  prevent  Don  Ramon  from  stealing  my 


266  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

glory ;  and  Don  Eamons  abound  on  every  side.    I  at  last  dare 
to  avow  that  my  endurance  is  exhausted. 


'SCENE  EIGHTH. 

FONTANARES,  ESTEBAN,  GlEONE  AND  TWO  WORKMEN. 

ESTEBAN 

Can  any  of  you  tell  me  where  a  person  named  Fontanares  is 
hiding  himself? 

FONTANARES 

He  is  not  hiding  himself.  I  am  he ;  he  is  merely  meditating 
in  silence.  (Aside)  Where  is  Quinola?  He  would  know 
how  to  send  them  away  satisfied.  (Aloud)  What  do  you 
want? 

ESTEBAN 

We  want  our  money!  We  have  been  working  without 
wages  for  three  weeks ;  the  laborer  lives  from  day  to  day. 

FONTANARES 
Alas,  my  friends,  I  do  not  live  at  all ! 

ESTEBAN 

You  are  alone;  you  can  pinch  your  belly.  But  we  have 
wives  and  children.  At  the  present  moment  we  have  pawned 
everything. 

FONTANARES 
Have  confidence  in  me. 

ESTEBAN 
Can  we  pay  the  baker  with  this  confidence  in  you  ? 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  2G7 

FONTANARES 

I  am  a  man  of  honor. 

GIRONE 
Hark  you !    We  also  are  men  of  honor. 

ESTEBAN 

Take  the  honor  of  each  of  us  to  the  Lombard  and  you  will 
see  how  much  he  will  lend  you  on  it. 

GIRONE 

I  am  not  a  man  of  talent,  not  I,  and  no  one  will  give  me 
trust. 

ESTEBAN 

I  am  nothing  but  a  villainous  workman,  but  if  my  wife 
needs  an  iron  pot,  I  pay  for  it,  by  heaven ! 

FONTANARES 

I  would  like  to  know  who  it  is  has  set  you  on  me  in  this 
way? 

GIRONE 
Set  us  on?    Are  we  dogs? 

ESTEBAN 

The  magistrates  of  Barcelona  have  given  judgment  in  favor 
of  Masters  Coppolus  and  Carpano,  and  have  granted  them  a 
lien  on  your  inventions;  pray  tell  us,  where  is  our  lien? 

GIRONE 
shan't  go  away  from  this  place  without  my  money. 

FONTANARES 

Can  you  find  any  money  by  staying  here?  However,  here 
you  may  remain.  Good-day.  (He  takes  up  his  hat  and  cloak.) 


268  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

ESTEBAN 

No !  You  won't  go  out  without  paying  us.  (The  workmen 
prepare  to  bar  the  door.) 

GIRONE 

There  is  a  piece  which  I  forged  myself;  I  am  going  to 
keep  it. 

FONTANARES 

What!  you  wretch!    (He  draws  his  sword.) 

THE  WORKMEN 
You  will  not  make  us  budge. 

FONTANARES  (rushing  upon  them) 

Here  is  for  you!  (He  stops  short  and  throws  away  his 
sword).  Perhaps  these  fellows  have  been  sent  by  Avaloros 
and  Sarpi  to  push  me  to  extremes.  If  they  succeeded  I  might 
be  accused  of  murder  and  thrown  into  prison  for  years.  (He 
kneels  down  before  the  Madonna.)  Oh,  my  God!  are  genius 
and  crime  the  same  thing  in  Thy  sight?  What  have  I  done 
to  suffer  such  defeats,  such  insults  and  such  outrages?  Must 
I  pay  for  my  triumph  in  advance  ?  (To  the  workmen)  Every 
Spaniard  is  master  in  his  own  house. 

ESTEBAN 

You  have  no  house.  This  place  is  the  Golden  Sun;  the 
landlord  has  told  us  so. 

GIRONE 
You  haven't  paid  for  your  lodging ;  you  pay  for  nothing. 

FONTANARES 

Eemain  where  you  are,  my  masters,  I  was  wrong;  I  am  in 
debt. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  269 

SCENE  NINTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  COPPOLDS  AND  CAEPANO. 

COPPOLUS 

Senor,  I  come  to  tell  you  that  the  magistrates  of  Barcelona 
have  granted  me  a  lien  on  your  machine,  and  I  shall  take 
measures  that  no  part  of  it  leaves  this  place.  My  confrere, 
Carpano,  your  locksmith,  shares  my  claim. 

FONTANABES 

What  devil  is  blinding  you  ?  Without  me,  this  machine  is 
nothing  but  so  much  iron,  steel,  copper  and  wood;  with  me, 
it  represents  a  fortune. 

COPPOLUS 

We  are  not  going  to  leave  you.  (The  two  merchants  make 
a  movement  as  if  to  hem  in  Fontanares.) 

FONTANAEES 

What  friend  embraces  you  so  closely  as  a  creditor?  Well, 
well,  I  wish  the  devil  would  take  back  the  great  thought  he- 
gave  me. 

ALL 

The  devil! 

FONTANAEES 

Ah !  I  must  keep  watch  upon  my  tongue  or  one  word  will 
throw  me  into  the  clutches  of  the  Inquisition ! — No  glory  can 
recompense  me  for  such  sufferings  as  these ! 

COPPOLUS  (to  Carpano) 
Shall  we  have  it  sold? 

FONTANAEES 
But  to  be  worth  anything,  the  machine  must  be  finished, 


270 


and  one  piece  is  wanting,  of  which  the  model  is  before  you. 
(Coppolus  and  Carpano  consult  together.)  Two  hundred  se- 
quins more  would  be  required  for  its  completion. 


SCENE  TENTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS.    QUINOLA  (disguised  as  a  fantastic  old 

man) ;  MONIPODIO   (fancifully  dressed}  ;  THE 

LANDLORD  OP  THE  GOLDEN  SUN. 

THE  LANDLORD  OF  THE  GOLDEN  SUN  (pointing  to 

Fontanares) 
Sefior,  that  is  he. 

QUINOLA 

And  so  you  have  lodged  the  grandson  of  General  Fonta- 
nares  in  a  stable !  The  republic  of  Venice  will  set  him  in  a 
palace !  My  dear  boy,  let  me  embrace  you.  (He  steps  up  to 
Fontanares.)  The  most  noble  republic  has  learned  of  your 
promises  to  the  king  of  Spain,  and  I  have  left  the  arsenal  at 
Venice,  over  which  I  preside,  in  order  that — (aside)  I  am 
Quinola. 

FONTANARES 

Never  was  an  ancestor  restored  to  life  more  opportunely — 

QUINOLA 

In  what  a  miserable  condition  I  find  you! — Is  this  then 
the  antechamber  of  glory  ! 

FONTANARES 
Misery  is  the  crucible  in  which  God  tests  our  strength. 

QUINOLA 
Who  are  these  people  ? 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  271 

FONTANARES 

Creditors  and  workmen,  clamoring  for  their  wages. 

QUINOLA  (to  the  landlord) 

Eascal  of  a  landlord,  is  this  the  dwelling-place  of  my  grand- 
run  ? 

THE  LANDLORD 
Certainly,  your  excellency. 

QUINOLA 

I  have  some  knowledge  of  the  laws  of  Catalonia,  and  I  shall 
send  for  the  magistrate  to  put  these  rogues  in  prison.  You 
may  call  down  the  bailiffs  upon  my  grandson,  but  keep  to 
your  own  houses,  you  blackguards !  (He  fumbles  in  his 
pocket.)  Stay!  Now  go  and  drink  my  health.  (He  throws 
money  among  them.)  Come  to  me  later  on  and  you  shall  be 
paid. 

THE  WPRKMEN 

Long  live  his  excellency!     (Exeunt.) 

QUINOLA  (to  Fontanares) 
Our  last  doubloon !    But  it  was  a  good  bluff. 


SCENE  ELEVENTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  WITHOUT  THE  HOST  AND  THE 
WORKMEN. 

QUINOLA  (to  the  two  tradesmen) 

As  for  you,  my  good  fellows,  you  seem  to  be  of  better  stuff, 
and  by  the  intervention  of  a  little  money  we  can  come  to  a 
settlement. 

COPPOLUS 
Yes,  we  shall  then,  your  excellency,  be  at  your  service. 


272  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

QUINOLA 

Do  I  see  here,  my  son,  that  famous  invention  about  which 
Venice  is  so  excited?  Where  is  the  plan,  the  elevation,  the 
section,  the  working  drawings  of  the  machine? 

COPPOLUS  (to  Carpano) 

He  knows  all  about  it,  but  we  must  get  further  information 
before  advancing  anything. 

QUINOLA 

You  are  an  amazing  man,  my  son !  Like  Columbus,  you 
will  yet  have  your  day.  (He  kneels.)  I  thank  God  for  the 
honor  He  has  done  our  family.  (To  the  merchants)  Two 
hours  from  this  I  will  pay  you.  (Exeunt  Coppolus  and 
Carpano.) 


SCENE  TWELFTH. 
QUINOLA,  FONTANARES  AND  MONIPODIO. 

FONTANARES 
What  will  be  the  result  of  this  imposture  ? 

QUINOLA 

You  were  tottering  on  the  brink  of  an  abyss,  and  I  rescued 
you. 

MONIPODIO 

It  was  well  impersonated !  But  the  Venetians  have  abun- 
dance of  money,  and  in  order  to  obtain  three  months'  credit, 
we  must  throw  dust  into  the  eyes  of  the  creditors,  and  this  is 
the  most  expensive  kind  of  dust. 

QUINOLA 

Didn't  I  tell  you  that  there  was  a  treasure  coming  ?  Well 
it's  here  now. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  273 

MONIPODIO 

Coming  of  its  own  accord.     (Quinola  assents  with  a  nod.) 

FONTANABES 

His  effrontery  terrifies  me. 


SCENE  THIRTEENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  MATHIEU  MAGIS  AND  DON  RAMON. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 

I  have  brought  Don  Eamon  to  you,  for  I  wish  to  do  nothing 
without  his  sanction. 

DON  RAMON  (to  Fontanares) 

Senor,  I  am  delighted  at  this  opportunity  of  sharing  the 
work  of  so  eminent  a  man  of  science.  We  two  will  be  enabled 
to  bring  your  invention  to  the  highest  perfection. 

QUINOLA 

Senor  knows  mechanics,  balistics,  mathematics,  dioptrics, 
catoptrics,  statistics? 

DON  RAMON 
Indeed  I  do.    I  have  produced  many  valuable  treatises. 

QUINOLA 
In  Latin? 

DON  RAMON 
No,  in  Spanish. 

QUINOLA 

No  true  philosopher,  senor,  writes  in  anything  but  Latin. 
There  is  a  danger  that  science  may  be  vulgarized.  Do  you 
know  Latin? 


274  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

DON  KAMON 
Yes,  senor. 

QUINOLA 

So  much  the  better  for  you. 

FONTANARES 

Senor,  I  respect  the  name  which  you  have  made;  but  I 
cannot  accept  your  offer,  because  of  the  dangers  attendant  on 
my  enterprise;  I  am  risking  my  head  in  this  work  and  yours 
is  too  precious  to  be  exposed. 

DON  EAMON 

Do  you  think,  senor,  that  you  can  afford  to  slight  Don 
Kamon,  the  great  scientific  authority  ? 

QUINOLA 

Don  Eamon !  the  famous  Don  Kamon,  who  has  expounded 
the  causes  of  so  many  natural  phenomena,  which  hitherto  had 
been  thought  to  happen  without  cause? 

DON  EAMON 
The  very  man. 

QUINOLA 

I  am  Fontanaresi,  director  of  the  arsenal  of  the  Venetian 
Eepublic,  and  grandfather  of  our  inventor.  My  son,  you  may 
have  full  confidence  in  Don  Eamon;  a  man  of  his  position  can 
have  no  designs  upon  you ;  let  us  tell  him  everything. 

DON  EAMON   (aside) 
Ah!    I  am  going  to  learn  everything  about  the  machine. 

FONTANARES  (aside  to  Quinola) 
What  is  all  this  about  ? 

QUINOLA   (aside  to  Fontanares) 
Let  me  give  him  a  lesson  in  mathematics;  it  will  do  him 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  275 

no  good,  and  us  no  harm.  (To  Don  Ramon]  Will  you  come 
here  ?  (He  points  out  the  parts  of  the  machine)  All  this  is 
meaningless;  for  philosophers,  the  great  thing — 

DON  EAMON 
ffhe  great  thing? 

QUINOLA 

Is  the  problem  itself !  You  know  the  reason  why  clouds 
mount  upwards? 

DON  KAMON 

I  believe  it  is  because  they  are  lighter  than  the  air. 

QUINOLA 

Not  at  all !  They  are  heavy  as  well  as  light,  for  the  water 
that  is  in  them  ends  by  falling  as  flat  as  a  fool.  I  don't  like 
water,  do  you? 

DON  EAMON 

I  have  a  great  respect  for  it. 

QUINOLA 

I  see  that  we  are  made  for  each  other.  The  clouds  rise  to 
such  a  height,  because  they  are  vapor,  and  are  also  attracted 
by  the  force  of  the  cold  upper  air. 

DON  RAMON 
That  may  be  true.    I  will  write  a  treatise  on  the  subject. 

QUINOLA 

My  grandson  states  this  in  the  formula  R  plus  0.  And  as 
there  is  much  water  in  the  air,  we  simply  say,  0  plus  0,  which 
is  a  new  binomial. 

DON  RAMON 
A  new  binomial ! 

QUINOLA 
Yes,  an  X,  if  you  like  it  better. 


276  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

DON  RAMON 
X,  ah  yes,  I  understand! 

FONTANARES    (aside) 

What  a  donkey ! 

QUINOLA 

The  rest  is  a  mere  trifle.  The  tube  receives  the  water  which, 
by  some  means  or  other,  has  been  changed  to  cloud.  This 
cloud  is  bound  to  rise  and  the  resulting  force  is  immense. 

DON  RAMON 
Immense,  why  immense! 

QUINOLA 

Immense — in  that  it  is  natural,  since  man — pay  particular 
attention  to  this — does  not  create  force — 

DON  RAMON 
Very  good,  then  how? — 

QUINOLA 

He  borrows  it  from  nature ;  to  invent,  is  to  borrow. — Then 
— by  means  of  certain  pistons, — for  in  mechanics — you 
know — 

DON  RAMON 
Yes,  senor,  I  know  mechanics. 

QUINOLA 

Very  good  !  The  method  of  applying  a  force  is  child's  play, 
a  trifle,  a  matter  of  detail,  as  in  the  turnspit — 

r 

DON  RAMON 
Ah !  Ho  employs  the  turnspit  then  ? 


RESOUKCES  OF  QUINOLA  277 

QUINOLA 

There  are  two  here,  and  the  force  is  such  that  it  raises  the 
mountains,  which  skip  like  rams — as  was  predicted  by  King 
David. 

DON  KAMON 

Senor,  you  are  perfectly  right,  the  clouds,  that  is,  the 
water — 

QUINOLA 

Water,  senor  ? — Why !  It  is  the  world.  Without  water,  you 
could  not — That  is  plain.  Well  now !  This  is  the  point  on 
which  my  grandson's  invention  is  based;  water  will  subdue 
water.  X  equals  0  plus  0,  that  is  the  complete  formula. 

DON  RAMON  (aside) 
The  terms  he  employs  are  incomprehensible. 

QUINOLA 
Do  you  understand  me  ? 

DON  RAMON 
Perfectly. 

QUINOLA  (aside) 

This  man  is  a  driveling  dotard.  (Aloud)  I  have  spoken 
to  you  in  the  language  of  genuine  philosophy — 

MATHIEU  MAGIS  (to  Monipodio) 
Can  you  tell  me  who  this  remarkably  learned  man  is? 

MONIPODIO 

He  is  a  very  great  man,  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  my 
knowledge  of  balistics;  he  is  the  director  of  the  Venetian 
arsenal,  and  purposes  this  evening  making  us  a  contribution 
on  behalf  of  the  republic. 


278  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 

I  must  go  and  tell  Senora  Brancadori,  she  comes  from 
Venice.     (Exit.) 


SCENE  FOURTEENTH. 

THE    SAME    PERSONS,  WITH  THE  EXCEPTION  OF   MATHIEI: 
MAGIS.     LOTHUNDIAZ  AND  MARIE. 

MARIE 
Am  I  in  time  ? 

QUINOLA  (aside) 

Hurrah !  Here  comes  our  treasure.  (Lothundiaz  and  Don 
Ramon  exchange  greetings  and  examine  the  pieces  of  ma- 
chinery in  the  centre  of  the  stage.) 

FONTANARES 

What!    Is  Marie  here? 

MARIE 

My  father  brought  me.  Ah !  my  dear  friend,  your  servant 
told  me  of  your  distress — 

FONTANARES  (to  Quinola) 
You  scoundrel  I 

QUINOLA 
What,  grandson! 

MARIE 
And  he  brought  all  my  agonies  to  an  end. 

FONTANARES 
Tell  me,  pray,  what  was  it  troubled  you  ? 

MARIE 
You  cannot  imagine  the  persecutions  I  have  endured  since 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  279 

your  arrival,  and  especially  since  your  quarrel  with  Madame 
Brancadori.  What  could  I  do  against  the  authority  of  my 
father  ?  It  is  absolute.  While  I  remained  at  home,  I  doubted 
my  power  to  help  you;  my  heart  was  yours  in  spite  of  every- 
thing, but  my  bodily  presence — 

FONTANARES 

And  so  you  are  another  martyr! 

MARIE 

By  delaying  the  day  of  your  triumph,  you  have  made  my 
position  intolerable.  Alas  !  when  I  see  you  here,  I  perceive  that 
you  yourself  at  the  same  time  have  been  enduring  incredible 
hardships.  In  order  that  I  might  be  with  you  for  a  moment, 
I  have  feigned  an  intention  of  vowing  myself  to  God;  this 
evening  I  enter  a  convent. 

FONTANARES 

A  convent  ?  Is  that  the  way  they  would  separate  us  ?  These 
tortures  make  one  curse  the  day  of  his  birth.  And  you,  Marie, 
you,  who  are  the  mainspring  and  the  glory  of  my  discovery,  the 
star  that  protected  my  destiny,  I  have  forced  you  to  seek  ref- 
uge in  heaven !  I  cannot  stand  up  against  that.  (He  weeps.) 

MARIE 

But  by  promising  to  enter  a  convent,  I  obtained  my  father's 
permission  to  come  here.  I  wish  in  bidding  you  farewell  to 
bring  you  hope.  Here  are  the  savings  of  a  young  girl,  of  your 
sister,  which  I  have  kept  against  the  day  when  all  would  for- 
sake you. 

FONTANARES 

And  what  care  I  for  glory,  for  fortune,  for  life  itself,  with- 
out you  ? 

MARIE 

Accept  the  gift  which  is  all  that  the  woman  who  intends 
to  be  your  wife  can  and  ought  to  offer.  If  I  feel  that  you 


280  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

are  unhappy  and  in  distress,  hope  will  forsake  me  in.  my 
retirement,  and  I  shall  die,  uttering  a  last  prayer  for  you  1 

QUINOLA  (to  Marie) 

Let  him  play  the  proud  man,  we  may  save  him  in  spite  of 
himself.  Do  you  know  it  is  for  this  purpose  that  I  ain  pass- 
ing myself  off  as  his  grandfather?  (Marie  gives  her  purse  to 
Quinola.) 

LOTHUNDIAZ  (to  Don  Ramon) 

So  you  do  not  think  much  of  him  ? 

DON  BAMON 

Oh,  no,  he  is  an  artisan,  who  knows  nothing  and  who  doubt- 
less stole  his  secret  in  Italy. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

I  have  always  doubted  him,  and  it  seems  I  was  right  in 
refusing  him  my  daughter  in  marriage. 

DON  EAMON 

He  would  bring  her  to  beggary.  He  has  squandered  five 
thousand  sequins,  and  has  gone  into  debt  three  thousand, 
in  eight  months,  without  attaining  any  result !  Ah !  He  is 
a  contrast  with  his  grandfather.  There's  a  philosopher  of  the 
first  rank  for  you !  Fontanares  will  have  to  work  hard  to 
catch  up  with  him.  (He  points  to  Quinola.) 

LOTHUNDIAZ 
His  grandfather? 

QUINOLA 

Yes,  senor,  my  name  of  Fontanares  was  changed  to  thai 
of  Fontanaresi. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 
And  you  are  Pablo  Fontanaresi  ? 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  281 

QUINOLA 
Yes,  Pablo  himself. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

And  are  you  rich  ? 

QUINOLA 
Opulent. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

That  delights  me,  sefior.  I  suppose  that  now  you  will  pay 
me  the  two  thousand  sequins  which  you  borrowed  from  my 
father  ? 

QUINOLA 

Certainly,  if  you  can  show  me  my  signature,  I  am  ready  to 
pay  the  bond. 

MARIE  (after  a  conversation  with  Fontanares) 
You  will  accept  this — will  you  not — as  a  means  of  securing 
your  triumph,  for  is  not  our  happiness  staked  on  that? 

FONTANARES 

To  think  that  I  am  dragging  down  this  pearl  into  the  gulf 
which  is  yawning  to  receive  me!  (Quinola  and  Monipodio 
depart.) 


SCENE  FIFTEENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  SARPI. 

SARPI  (to  Lotliundiaz) 
You  here,  Senor  Lothundiaz  ?    And  your  daughter  too  ? 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

I  promised  that  she  should  come  here  to  say  farewell  on 
condition  that  she  would  not  refuse  to  retire  to  a  convent 
afterwards. 


282  RESOURCES  OF  QU1NOLA 

SARPI 

The  assembly  here  is  so  numerous  that  I  am  not  surprised, 
nor  in  the  least  offended,  by  your  complaisance  towards  her. 

FONTANARES 

Ah !  Here  comes  the  fiercest  of  my  persecutors.  How  are 
you,  senor ;  are  you  come  to  put  my  constancy  to  a  fresh  test  ? 

j 

SARPI 

I  represent  the  viceroy  of  Catalonia,  senor,  and  I  have  a 
right  to  your  respectful  treatment.  (To  Don  Ramon)  Are 
you  satisfied  with  him  ? 

DON  KAMON. 
If  he  takes  my  advice,  we  are  sure  of  success. 

SARPI 
The  viceroy  has  great  hopes  from  your  learned  co-operation. 

FONTANARES 

Surely  I  am  dreaming !  Is  it  possible  they  are  raising  up 
a  rival  to  me  ? 

SARPI 

No!  senor;  but  a  guide  who  is  able  to  save  you  from 
failure. 

FONTANARES 
Who  told  you  I  needed  one  ? 

MARIE 

0  Alfonso!  But  suppose  that  Don  Ramon  could  insure 
your  success  ? 

FONTANARES 
Ah !  Even  she  has  lost  confidence  in  me ! 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  283 

MARIE 
They  say  he  is  so  learned ! 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

Presumptuous  man !  He  thinks  that  he  knows  more  than 
'  all  the  learned  in  the  world. 

SARPI 

I  was  induced  to  come  here  on  account  of  a  question  which 
has  been  raised  and  has  filled  the  viceroy  with  anxiety;  you 
have  had  in  your  possession  for  nearly  ten  months  a  ship 
belonging  to  the  state,  and  you  must  now  render  an  account 
of  the  loan. 

FONTANARES 

The  king  fixed  no  term  for  the  time  of  my  experiments. 

SARPI 

The  administration  of  Catalonia  has  the  right  to  demand 
an  account,  and  we  have  received  a  decree  of  the  ministers  to 
this  effect.  (Fontanares  appears  thunderstruck.)  Oh!  you 
can  take  your  time;  we  do  not  wish  to  embarrass  a  man  like 
you.  Nor  are  we  inclined  to  think  that  you  wish  to  elude 
the  stipulation  with  regard  to  your  life  by  keeping  the  ship 
for  an  indefinite  period. 

MARIE 

His  life? 

FONTANARES 
Yes,  I  am  staking  my  life  in  these  experiments. 

MARIE 
And  yet,  you  refuse  my  help  ? 

FONTANARES 
In  three  months,  Count  Sarpi,  I  shall  have  completed,  with- 


284  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

out  the  counsel  of  another,  the  work  I  am  engaged  upon.  You 
will  then  see  one  of  the  grandest  spectacles  that  a  man  can 
produce  for  his  age  to  witness. 

i 

SAEPI 

Here,  then,  is  a  bond  to  that  effect ;  sign  it.     (Fontanares 
signs  it.) 

MARIE 

Farewell,  my  friend !    If  you  are  vanquished  in  this  strug- 
gle I  believe  that  I  shall  love  you  more  than  ever ! 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

Come,  my  daughter ;  the  man  is  mad. 

DON  KAMON. 
Young  man !  be  sure  to  read  my  treatises. 

SABPI 

Farewell,  future  grandee  of   Spain.    (Exeunt  all  except 
Fontanares.) 


SCENE  SIXTEENTH. 

FONTANARES  (alone  in  the  front  of  the  stage) 

While  Marie  is  in  a  convent  the  sunlight  cannot  warm  me. 
I  am  bearing  up  a  world,  yet  fear  I  am  no  Titan. — No,  I  shall 
never  succeed;  all  is  against  me.  And  this  work  which  cost 
me  three  years  of  thought  and  ten  months  of  toil  will  never 
cleave  the  ocean!  But  now,  I  am  heavy  with  sleep.  (He 
lies  down  on  the  straw.) 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  285 

SCENE  SEVENTEENTH. 

FONTANARES  (asleep) ,  QDINOLA  AND  MONIPODIO  (entering 
by  the  Postern). 

QUINOLA 
Diamonds !    Pearls  and  gold  !    We  are  saved. 

MONIPODIO 
Don't  forget.    The  Brancadori  is  from  Venice. 

QUINOLA 

Then  I'd  better  be  getting  back  there.    Send  me  the  land- 
lord; I  wish  to  re-establish  our  credit. 

MONIPODIO 
He  is  here. 


SCENE  EIGHTEENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  THE  LANDLORD  OF  THE  GOLDEN  SUN. 

QUINOLA 

What  is  this,  senor,  Landlord  of  the  Golden  Sun?  You 
don't  seem  to  have  much  confidence  in  the  star  of  my  grand- 
son? 

THE  LANDLORD 
A  hostelry,  senor,  is  not  a  banking  house. 

QUINOLA 

No,  but  you  should  not,  for  charity's  sake,  have  refused 
him  bread.  The  most  noble  republic  of  Venice  sent  me  to 
bring  him  to  that  city,  but  he  is  too  fond  of  Spain !  I  return, 
as  T  arrived,  secretly.  I  have  nothing  with  me  that  I  can 
dispose  of  excepting  this  diamond.  A  month  from  this  time 


286  RESOURCES  OF  QUTNOLA 

I  will  remit  to  you  through  the  bank.    Will  you  arrange  with 
my  grandson's  servant  for  the  sale  of  this  jewel  ? 

THE  LANDLORD 

Your  people  here,  senor,  shall  be  treated  like  princes  of 
wealth. 

QUINOLA 
You  may  go.     (Exit  landlord.) 


SCENE  NINETEENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  EXCEPTING  THE  LANDLORD. 

QUINOLA 

I  must  go  and  change  my  dress.  (He  looks  at  Fontanares.) 
He  sleeps;  that  noble  heart  has  at  last  succumbed  to  its  emo- 
tions; it  is  only  we  who  know  how  to  yield  before  misfor- 
tunes; our  carelessness  he  cannot  share.  Have  I  not  done 
well,  in  always  obtaining  a  duplicate  of  that  which  he 
required?  (To  Monipodio)  Here  is  the  plan  of  the  last 
piece;  do  you  take  charge  of  it.  (Exeunt.) 


'SCENE  TWENTIETH. 
FONTANARES   (sleeping),  FAUSTINE  AND  MATHIEU  MAGIS. 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 
There  he  is ! 

FAUSTINE 

To  what  a  plight  have  I  reduced  him !  From  the  depth  of 
the  wounds  which  I  have  thus  inflicted  upon  myself,  I  realize 
the  depth  of  my  love !  Oh !  how  much  happiness  do  1  owe 
him  in  compensation  for  so  much  suffering! — 

Curtain  to  the  Third  Act. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  287 


ACT  IV. 


SCENE  FIRST. 

(The  stage  setting  represents  a  public  square.  In  the  centre 
stands  a  sheriff's  officer  on  an  auctioneer's  block,  around  the 
base  of  which  are  the  various  pieces  for  the  machine.  A  crowd 
is  gathered  on  each  side  of  the  platform.  To  the  left  of  the 
spectator  are  grouped  together  Coppolus,  Carpano,  the  Land- 
lord of  the  Golden  Sun,  Esteban,  Girone,  Mathieu  Magis, 
Don  Ramon  and  Loihundiaz.  To  the  right  are  Fontanares 
and  Monipodio;  Quinola  conceals  himself  in  a  cloak  behind 
Monipodio.) 

FONTANARES,  MONIPODIO,  QUINOLA,  COPPOLUS,  THE  LAND- 
LORD OF  THE  GOLDEN  SUN,  ESTEBAN,  GIRONE,  MATHIEU 
MAGIS,  DON  EAMON,  LOTHUNDIAZ,  SHERIFF'S  OFFICER, 
A  CROWD  OF  PEOPLE. 

SHERIFF'S  OFFICER 

Gentlemen,  show  a  little  more  warmth.  Here  we  have  a 
boiler,  big  enough  to  cook  a  dinner  for  a  regiment  of  the 
guards. 

THE  LANDLORD 
Four  maravedis. 

SHERIFF'S  OFFICER 
Do  I  hear  more  ?    Come  and  look  at  it,  examine  it ! 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 
Six  maravedis. 


288  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

QUINOLA   (to  Fontanares) 
Senor,  they  will  not  fetch  a  hundred  ducats. 

FONTANABES 

We  must  try  to  be  resigned. 

QUINOLA 

Resignation  seems  to  me  to  be  the  fourth  theological  virtue 
omitted  from  the  list  out  of  consideration  for  women ! 

MONIPODIO 

Hold  your  tongue !  Justice  is  on  your  track  and  you  would 
have  been  arrested  before  this  if  they  had  not  taken  you  for 
one  of  my  people. 

SHERIFF'S  OFFICER 

This  is  the  last  lot,  gentlemen.  Going,  going — no  further 
bid?  Gone!  It  is  knocked  down  to  Senor  Mathieu  Magis, 
for  ten  ducats,  six  maravedis. 

LOTHUNDIAZ  (to  Don  Ramon) 

What  do  you  think  of  that  ?  Thus  ends  the  sublime  inven- 
tion of  our  great  man !  He  was  right,  by  heaven,  when  he 
promised  us  a  rare  spectacle ! 

COPPOLUS 
You  can  laugh;  he  does  not  owe  you  anything. 

ESTEBAN 
It  is  we  poor  devils  who  have  to  pay  for  his  folly. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

Did  you  get  nothing,  Master  Coppolus?  And  what  of  my 
daughter's  diamonds,  which  the  great  man's  servant  put  into 
the  machine? 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  .  289 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 
Why,  they  were  seized  in  my  house. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

And  are  not  the  thieves  in  the  hand  of  justice?  I  would 
like  best  of  all  to  see  Quinola,  that  cursed  pilferer  of  jewels, 
in  durance. 

QUINOLA  (aside) 

Oh,  my  young  life,  what  lessons  are  you  receiving!  My 
antecedents  have  ruined  me. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

But  if  they  catch  him,  his  goose  will  soon  be  cooked,  and  I 
shall  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  him  dangling  from  the  gal- 
lows, and  giving  the  benediction  with  his  feet 

FONTANARES  (to  Quinolo) 
Our  calamity  stirs  this  dullard's  wit. 

QUINOLA 
You  mean  his  brutality. 

DON  EAMON 

I  sincerely  regret  this  disaster.  This  young  artisan  had  at 
last  listened  to  my  advice,  and  we  were  on  the  point  of  realiz- 
ing the  promises  made  by  him  to  the  king ;  but  he  blindly  for- 
feited his  opportunity ;  I  mean  to  ask  pardon  for  him  at  the 
court,  for  I  shall  tell  the  king  how  useful  he  will  be  to  me. 

COPPOLUS 

Here  is  an  example  of  generosity  extremely  rare  in  the  con- 
duct of  one  learned  man  towards  another. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 
You  are  an  honor  to  Catalonia ! 


290  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

FONTANARES  (coming  forward) 

I  have  endured  with  tranquillity  the  agony  of  seeing  a 
piece  of  workmanship,  which  entitles  me  to  eternal  glory, 
sold  as  so  much  old  junk — (murmurs  among  the  people). 
But  this  passes  all  endurance.  Don  Ramon,  if  you  have,  I 
do  not  say  understood,  but  even  guessed,  at  the  use  of  all 
these  fragments  of  machinery,  displaced  and  scattered  as  they 
are,  you  ought  to  have  bought  them  even  at  the  sacrifice  of 
your  whole  fortune. 

DON  RAMON 

Young  man,  I  respect  your  misfortunes;  but  you  know 
that  your  apparatus  could  not  possibly  go,  and  that  my 
experience  had  become  necessary  to  you. 

FONTANAEES 

The  most  terrible  among  all  the  horrors  of  destitution  is 
that  it  gives  ground  for  calumny  and  the  triumph  of  fools ! 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

Is  it  not  disgraceful  for  a  man  in  your  position  thus  to 
undertake  to  insult  a  philosopher  whose  reputation  is  estab- 
lished ?  Where  would  I  be  if  I  had  given  you  my  daughter  ? 
You  would  have  led  me  a  fine  dance  down  to  beggary ;  for 
you  have  already  wasted,  for  absolutely  no  purpose,  ten  thou- 
sand sequins!  Really  this  grandee  of  Spain  seems  particu- 
larly small  in  his  grandeur  to-day. 

FONTANARES 
You  make  me  pity  you. 


That  is  possible,  but  you  do  not  make  me  envy  you;  your 
life  is  at  the  mercy  of  the  tribunal. 


RESOURCES  OF  QU1NOLA  291 

DON  RAMON 
Let  him  alone;  don't  you  see  that  he  is  crazy? 

FONTANARES 

Not  quite  crazy  enough,  senor,  to  believe  that  0  plus  0  is 
a  binomial. 


SCENE  SECOND. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  DON  FREGOSE,  FAUSTINE,  AVALOROS 
AND  SARPI. 

SARPI. 
We  have  come  too  late;  the  sale  is  over — 

DON  FREGOSE 

The  king  will  regret  the  confidence  he  placed  in  a  char- 
latan. 

FONTANARES 

A  charlatan,  my  lord?  In  a  few  days,  you  may  be  able  to 
cut  my  head  off ;  kill  me,  but  don't  calumniate  me ;  your  posi- 
tion in  the  state  is  too  high  for  you  to  descend  so  low. 

DON  FREGOSE 

Your  audacity  equals  the  extent  of  your  downfall.  Are 
you  unaware  that  the  magistrates  of  Barcelona  look  upon 
you  as  an  accomplice  of  the  thief  who  robbed  Lothundiaz? 
The  flight  of  your  servant  proves  the  crime,  and  the  freedom 
you  now  enjoy  is  due  to  the  intercessions  of  this  lady.  (Points 
to  Faustine.) 

FONTANARES 

My  servant,  your  excellency,  might  have  been  in  early  life 
a  criminal,  but  since  he  has  followed  my  fortunes  he  has  been 
an  innocent  man.  I  declare,  on  my  honor,  that  he  is  guiltless 


292  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

of  any  such  act  as  theft.  The  jewels  which  were  seized  at 
the  moment  he  was  engaged  in  selling  them  were  the  free 
gift  of  Marie  Lothundiaz,  from  whom  I  had  refused  to  accept 
them. 

FAUSTINE 

What  pride  he  shows,  even  in  adversity !  Nothing  can  bend 
him. 

SARPI. 

And  how  do  you  explain  the  resurrection  of  your  grand- 
father, the  pretended  director  of  the  Venetian  arsenal  ?  Un- 
fortunately for  you,  the  senora  and  myself  were  acquainted 
with  the  actual  man. 

FONTANARES 

I  caused  my  servant  to  put  on  this  disguise  in  order  that 
he  might  talk  science  and  mathematics  with  Don  Ramon. 
Sefior  Lothundiaz  will  tell  you  that  the  philosopher  of  Cata- 
lonia and  Quinola  perfectly  understood  each  other. 

MONIPODIO  (to  Quinola) 
He  has  mined  himself ! 

DON  RAMON 
On  this  subject  I  appeal  to  my  writings. 

FAUSTINE 

Do  not  be  perturbed,  Don  Ramon ;  it  is  so  natural  for  peo- 
ple of  this  kind,  when  they  find  themselves  falling,  to  drag 
down  other  people  with  them! 

LOTHUNDIAZ 
Such  a  disposition  is  detestable. 

FONTANARES 

Before  I  die  I  ought  to  speak  the  truth,  senora,  to  those 
who  have  flung  me  into  the  abyss.  (To  Don  Fregose)  My 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  293 

lord,  the  king  promised  me  the  protection  of  his  people  at 
Barcelona,  and  here  I  have  met  with  nothing  but  hatred! 
Oh,  you  grandees  of  the  land,  you  rich,  and  all  who  have  in 
your  hands  power  and  influence,  why  is  it  that  you  thus  throw 
obstacles  in  the  way  of  advancing  thought?  Is  it  the  law  of 
God  that  you  should  persecute  and  put  to  shame  that  which 
eventually  you  will  be  compelled  to  adore  ?  Had  I  been  pliant, 
abject  and  a  flatterer,  I  might  have  succeeded !  In  me  you 
have  persecuted  that  which  represents  all  that  is  noblest  in 
man — His  consciousness  of  his  own  power,  the  majesty  of  his 
labor,  the  heavenly  inspiration  which  urges  him  to  put  his 
hand  to  enterprise,  and — love,  that  spirit  of  human  trust, 
which  rekindles  courage  when  it  is  on  the  point  of  expiring 
in  the  storm  of  mockery.  Ah!  If  the  good  that  you  do  is 
done  amiss,  you  are  always  successful  in  the  accomplishment 
of  what  is  bad!  But  why  should  I  proceed? — You  are  not 
worthy  of  my  anger. 

FAUSTINE  (aside) 
Oh !    Another  word  and  I  must  cry  out  that  I  adore  him ! 

DON  FREGOSE 

Sarpi,  tell  the  police  officers  to  advance  and  carry  off  the 
accomplice  of  Quinola.     (Applause  and  cries  of  "bravo!") 


SCENE  THIRD. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  MARIE  LOTHUNDIAZ. 

(At  the  moment  the  police  officers  seize  Fontanares,  Marie 

appears,  in  the  habit  of  a  novice,  accompanied 

by  a  monk  and  two  sisters.) 

MARIE  LOTHUNDIAZ  (to  the  viceroy) 
My  lord,  I  have  just  learned  that  in  my  desire  to  save  Fon- 


294  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

lanares  from  the  rage  of  his  enemies  I  have  caused  his  ruin. 
But  now  an  opportunity  is  given  me  to  vindicate  the  truth, 
and  I  beg  to  declare  that  I  myself  put  into  the  hands  of 
Qninola  the  precious  stones  and  the  money  I  had  treasured 
MS  my  own.  (Lothundiaz  shows  some  excitement.)  They  be- 
longed to  me,  father,  and  God  grant  that  you  may  not  have 
cause  some  day  to  mourn  your  own  blindness. 

QUINOLA  (throwing  off  his  cloak) 
Whew !  I  breathe  freely  at  last ! 

FONTANARES  (bending  his  Tcnee  before  Marie} 

Thanks,  radiant  and  spotless  creature,  through  whose  love 
T  still  am  kept  close  to  that  heaven  from  which  I  draw  my 
faith  and  hope ;  you  have  saved  my  honor. 

MARIE 

And  is  not  your  honor  also  mine?  Your  glory  is  yet  to 
come. 

FONTANARES 

Alas !  my  work  is  dismembered  and  dispersed,  held  in  a 
hundred  avaricious  hands,  who  will  not  give  it  back  excepting 
at  the  price  it  cost  to  fabricate.  To  recover  it  I  should  double 
the  amount  of  my  indebtedness  and  fail  to  complete  the  en- 
terprise in  time.  All  is  over ! 

FAUSTINE  (to  Marie) 
Only  sacrifice  yourself  for  him  and  he  is  saved. 

MARIE 

What  say  you,  father?  and  you,  Count  Sarpi?  (Aside)  It 
will  be  my  death !  (Aloud)  Will  you  consent,  on  condition 
I  obey  you,  to  give  Fontanares  all  that  is  necessary  for  the 
success  of  his  undertaking?  (To  Faustine)  I  shall  devote 
myself  to  God,  senora ! 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  295 

FAUSTINE 

You  are  sublime,  sweet  angel !  (Apart)  And  thus  at  last 
deliverance  comes  to  me ! 

FONTANAEES 

Stay,  Marie !  I  would  choose  the  struggle  and  all  its  perils, 
I  would  choose  death  itself,  rather  than  the  loss  of  you  from 
such  a  cause. 

MARIE 

Rather  than  glory?  (To  the  viceroy)  My  lord,  you  will 
cause  my  gems  to  he  restored  to  Quinola.  I  return  to  my  con- 
vent with  a  happy  mind;  either  I  am  his,  or  I  must  live  to 
God  alone. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

I  believe  he  is  a  sorcerer. 

QUINOLA 

This  young  maiden  restores  to  me  my  love  for  womankind. 

FAUSTINE  (to  Sarpi,  the  viceroy  and  Avaloros) 
Can  we  not  conquer  him,  in  spite  of  all? 

AVALOROS 

I  shall  try  it. 

SARPI  (to  Faustine) 

All  is  not  lost.  (To  Lothundiaz)  Take  your  daughter 
home ;  she  will  soon  be  obedient  to  you. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 
God  grant  it!    Come,  my  daughter.     (Exeunt.) 


296  KESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

SCENE  FOURTH. 

FAUSTINE,  FREGOSE,  AVALOROS,  FONTANARES,  QUINOLA  AND 
MONIPODIO. 

AVALOROS 

I  have  studied  you  well,  young  man,  and  you  have  a  great 
heart — a  heart  firm  as  steel.  Steel  will  always  be  the  master 
of  gold.  Let  us  frankly  form  a  copartnership ;  I  will  pay 
your  debts,  buy  up  all  that  has  been  sold,  give  you  and 
Quinola  five  thousand  ducats,  and,  at  my  instance,  the  viceroy 
will  be  willing  to  forget  your  freedom  with  him. 

FONTANARES 

If,  in  my  distress,  I  have  ever  failed  in  respect  towards  you, 
senor,  I  beg  you  will  pardon  me. 

DON  FREGOSE 

That  is  quite  sufficient,  senor.  Don  Fregose  does  not  easily 
take  offence. 

FAUSTINE 
You  have  done  well,  my  lord.    . 

AVALOROS 

Thus  you  see,  young  man,  that  tempest  is  succeeded  by 
calm,  and  at  present  all  things  smile  upon  you.  The  next 
thing  for  us  to  do  is  to  unite,  you  and  I,  in  fulfilling  your 
promises  to  the  king. 

FONTANARES 

I  care  not  for  fortune  excepting  for  one  reason;  shall  I 
be  enabled  to  wed  Marie  Lothundiaz  ? 

DON  FREGOSE 
la  she  the  only  woman  in  the  world  you  love  ? 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  297 

FONTANARES 

The  only  one.    (Faustine  and  Avaloros  talk  together.) 

DON  FEEGOSE 

You  never  told  me  that  before.    Henceforth,  you  may  count 
on  me,  young  man;  I  am  your  steadfast  ally.     (Exit.) 

MONIPODIO 

They  are  coming  to  terms;  we  are  ruined.     I  shall  take 
myself  off  to  France  with  the  duplicate  machine.     (Exit.) 


SCENE  FIFTH. 
QUINOLA,  FONTANARES,  FAUSTINE  AND  AVALOROS. 

FAUSTINE  (to  Fontanares) 

Come,  now ;   I  also  bear  no  malice,  and  you  must  come  to 
the  banquet  I  am  giving. 

FONTANARES 
Senora,  your  first  kindness  concealed  treachery. 

FAUSTINE 

Like  all  those  lofty  dreamers,  who  enrich  humanity  with 
their  inventions,  you  know  neither  women,  nor  the  world. 

FONTANARES  (aside) 

I  have  scarcely  eight  days  left.     (To  Quinola)    I  am  going 
to  make  use  of  her. 

QUINOLA 
Do  so,  as  you  make  use  of  me. 


298  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

FONTANARES 

I  will  come  to  your  house,  senora. 

FAUSTINE 

I  must  thank  Quinola  for  that.  (She  offers  a  purse  to 
Quinola)  Take  this.  (To  Fontanares)  Till  we  meet  again  ! 
(Exeunt  Faustine  and  Avaloros.) 


SCENE  SIXTH. 
FONTANARES  AND  QUINOLA. 

FONTANARES 

That  woman  is  treacherous  as  the  sun  in  winter.  Unhappy 
am  I  that  I  sought  her,  for  she  has  taught  me  to  lose  faith. 
Is  it  possible  that  there  are  virtues  which  it  is  for  our  advan- 
tage to  discard  ? 

QUINOLA 

How  is  it  possible,  sefior,  to  distrust  a  woman  who  sets  in 
gold  her  slightest  words !  She  loves  you ;  that's  the  secret. 
Is  your  heart  so  very  small  that  it  cannot  harbor  two  affec- 
tions? 

FONTANARES 

Nonsense !    Marie  has  given  me  hope,  her  words  have  fired 

my  soul.    Yes,  I  shall  succeed. 
i 

QUINOLA  (aside) 

Where  is  Monipodio?  (Aloud)  A  reconciliation,  senor,  is 
very  easy  with  a  woman  who  yields  so  easily  as  Senora  Bran- 
cadori. 

FONTANARES 

Quinola ! 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  299 

QUINOLA 

Senor,  you  make  me  desperate !  Would  you  oppose  the 
perfidy  of  a  useful  love  with  the  loyalty  of  a  love  that  is  blind  ? 
I  need  the  influence  of  Senora  Brancadori  in  order  to  get  rid 
of  Monipodio,  whose  intentions  cause  me  anxiety.  If  only  I 
can  obtain  this  influence  I  will  guarantee  you  success,  and  you 
shall  then  marry  your  Marie. 

FONTANARES 

By  what  means? 

QUINOLA 

My  dear  senor,  by  mounting  on  the  shoulders  of  a  man  who 
sees  a  long  distance,  as  you  do,  any  one  can  see  farther  still. 
You  are  an  inventor,  very  good;  but  I  am  inventive.  You 
saved  me  from — I  needn't  say  what !  I,  in  turn,  will  deliver 
you  from  the  talons  of  envy  and  from  the  clutches  of  cu- 
pidity. Here  is  gold  for  us ;  come  dress  yourself,  make  your- 
self fine,  take  courage;  you  are  on  the  eve  of  triumph.  But 
above  all  things,  behave  graciously  towards  Senora  Bran- 
cadori. 

FONTANARES 

You  must  at  least  tell  me,  how  you  are  going  to  effect  this  ? 

QUINOLA 

No,  senor.  if  you  knew  my  secret,  all  would  be  ruined ;  you 
are  a  man  of  talent,  and  a  man  of  talent  is  always  simple  as  a 
child.  (Exeunt.) 


SCENE  SEVENTH. 

(The  setting  represents  the  drawing-room  in  Senora  Bran- 
cadori's  palace.} 

FAUSTINE  (alone} 
The  hour  is  come,  to  which  all  my  efforts  for  the  last  four- 


300  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

teen  months  have  been  looking  for  fulfillment.  In  a  few 
moments  Fontanares  will  see  that  Marie  is  forever  lost  to  him. 
Avaloros,  Sarpi  and  I  have  lulled  the  genius  to  forgetfulness, 
and  have  brought  the  man  up  to  the  very  day  when  his  experi- 
ment was  to  have  taken  place,  so  that  he  stands  helpless  and 
destitute.  Oh !  how  totally  is  he  in  my  power,  just  as  I  had 
wished !  But  does  a  person  ever  change  from  contempt  to 
love  ?  ISTo,  never.  Little  does  he  know  that  for  a  twelvemonth 
I  have  been  his  adversary,  and  the  misfortune  is,  that  when  he 
does  know  he  will  hate  me !  But  hatred  is  not  the  opposite 
of  love,  it  is  merely  the  obverse  of  the  golden  coin.  I  shall 
tell  him  everything;  I  shall  make  him  hate  me. 


SCENE  EIGHTH. 

• 

PAUSTINE  AND  PAQUITA. 

PAQUITA 

Senora,  your  orders  have  been  most  exactly  carried  out  by 
Monipodio.  Senorita  Lothundiaz  has  just  been  informed  by 
her  duenna,  of  the  peril  which  threatens  Senor  Fontanares 
this  evening. 

FAUSTINE 

Sarpi  must  be  here  by  this  time.  Tell  him  I  wish  to  speak 
to  him.  (Exit  Paquita.) 


SCENE  NINTH. 

FAUSTINE  (alone) 

\Ye  must  baffle  the 'plans  of  Monipodio.  Quinola  fears  he 
has  received  the  order  to  get  rid  of  Fontanares;  it  is  too  bad 
that  there  should  be  ground  for  such  a  fear. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  301 

SCENE  TENTH. 
FAUSTINE  AND  DON  FREGOSE. 

FAUSTINE 
Your  arrival  is  timely,  senor,  I  wish  to  ask  a  favor  of  you. 

DON  FREGOSE 
Say,  rather,  that  you  wish  to  confer  one  on  me. 

FAUSTINE 

Monipodio  must  disappear  from  Barcelona — yes,  and  from 
Catalonia,  within  two  hours ;  send  him  to  Africa. 

DON  FREGOSE 
What  has  he  done  to  you  ? 

FAUSTINE 

Nothing. 

DON  FREGOSE 
Well,  what  is  your  reason  ? 

FAUSTINE 
Simply  because — You  understand? 

DON  FREGOSE 
Your  wish  shall  be  obeyed.     (He  writes.) 


SCENE  ELEVENTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  SARPI. 

FAUSTINE 

Have  you  made  the  necessary  preparations,  cousin,  for  your 
immediate  marriage  with  Marie  Lothundiaz  ? 


302  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

SARPI. 

I  have,  and  her  good  father  has  taken  care  that  the  con- 
tract should  be  ready. 

FAUSTINE 

That  is  well !  Send  word  to  the  convent  of  the  Domini- 
cans. The  rich  heiress  will  freely  consent  to  be  wedded  to 
you  at  midnight;  she  will  accept  any  condition,  when  she 
sees  (whispering  to  Sarpi)  Fontanares  in  the  hands  of  justice. 

SARPI. 

I  quite  understand,  and  the  only  thing  now  is  to  have  him 
arrested.  My  good  fortune  seems  invincible !  And — I  owe  it 
all  to  you.  (Aside)  What  instrument  is  there  more  power- 
ful than  the  hatred  of  a  woman ! — 

DON  FREGOSE 

Sarpi,  see  that  this  order  is  strictly  carried  out  and  with  no 
delay.  (Exit  Sarpi.) 


SCENE  TWELFTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  EXCEPTING  SARPI. 

DON  FREGOSE 
And  what  of  your  own  marriage? 

FAUSTINE 

My  lord,  I  can  think  of  nothing  at  present  except  the  com 
ing  banquet;  you  shall  have  my  answer  this  evening.  (Fon- 
tanares appears.)  (Aside)  Oh,  there  he  comes!  (To  Frc- 
gose)  If  you  love  me,  leave  me  a  while. 

DON  FREGOSE 
Alone  with  him? 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  303 

FAUSTINE 
Yes,  so  I  desire. 

DON  FEEGOSE 

After  all   he   loves  no   one   but  his   Marie   Lothundiaz. 
(Exit.) 


SCENE  THIRTEENTH. 
FAUSTINE  AND  FONTANARES. 

FONTANARES  , 

The  palace  of  the  king  of  Spain  is  not  more  splendid  than 
yours,  senora,  and  you  here  display  all  the  pomp  of  royalty. 

FAUSTINE 
Listen  to  me,  dear  Fontanares. 

FONTANARES 

Dear  ? — Ah  !  senora,  you  have  taught  me  to  distrust  such 
words  as  that ! 

FAUSTINE 

She,  whom  you  have  so  cruelly  insulted,  will  now  reveal  her- 
self to  you.  A  terrible  disaster  threatens  you.  Sarpi  has  per- 
sistently worked  against  you  and  in  doing  so  has  carried  out 
the  orders  of  an  irresistible  power,  and  this  banquet  will  be  for 
you,  unless  I  intervene,  the  scene  of  a  Judas'  kiss.  I  have 
been  told,  in  confidence,  that  on  your  departure  from  this 
house,  perhaps  within  these  very  walls,  you  will  be  arrested, 
flung  into  prison,  and  your  trial  will  begin — never  to  end.  Is 
it  possible  that  you  can  put  into  proper  condition  in  one  night 
the  vessel  which  otherwise  will  be  forfeited  to  you?  As 
regards  your  work,  you  know  how  impossible  it  is  to  begin  it 
over  again.  I  wish  to  save  you,  you  and  your  glory,  you  and 
vour  fortune. 


304  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

FONTANARES 

You  save  me?    And  how? 

FAUSTINE 

Avaloros  has  placed  at  my  disposal  one  of  his  ships,  Moni- 
podio  has  given  me  his  best  smugglers  for  a  cruise;  let  us 
start  for  Venice.  The  republic  will  make  you  a  patrician 
and  will  give  you  ten  times  as  much  gold  as  Spain  has  prom- 
ised. (Aside)  Why  is  it  they  do  not  arrive? 

FONTANARES 

And  what  of  Marie?  If  we  are  to  take  her  with  us,  I  will 
believe  in  you. 

FAUSTINE 

Your  thoughts  are  of  her  at  the  very  moment  when  the 
choice  between  life  and  death  is  to  be  made.  If  you  delay, 
we  may  be  lost. 

FONTANARES 
We  ? — Senora ! 


SCENE  FOURTEENTH, 

THE  SAME  PERSONS.    GUARDS  KDSH  IN  AT  EVERY  DOOR.    A 
MAGISTRATE   APPEARS.     SARPI. 

SARPI 
Do  your  duty! 

THE  MAGISTRATE  (to  Fontanares) 
In  the  name  of  the  king,  I  arrest  you. 

FONTANARES 

The  hour  of  death  has  come  at  last !  Yet  happily  I  carry 
my  secret  with  me  to  God,  and  love  shall  be  my  winding 
sheet. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  305 

SCENE  FIFTEENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  MARIE  AND  LOTHUNDIAZ. 

MARIE 

I  was  not,  then,  deceived;  you  have  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  your  enemies !  And  what  is  left  to  me,  dearest  Alfonso, 
but  to  die  for  you — and  yet,  by  what  a  frightful  death !  0 
beloved !  heaven  is  jealous  of  a  perfect  love,  and  thus  would 
teach  us  by  those  cruel  disasters,  which  we  call  the  chances 
of  life,  that  there  is  no  true  happiness  save  in  the  presence  of 
God.  What !  you  here  ? 

SARPI. 

Senorita ! 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

My  daughter ! 

MARIE 

For  one  moment  you  have  left  me  free,  for  the  last  time  in 
my  life !  I  shall  keep  my  promise,  you  must  not  be  unfaith- 
ful to  yours.  .  0  sublime  discoverer,  you  will  have  to  dis- 
charge the  obligations  that  belong  to  greatness,  and  to  fight 
the  battle  of  your  lawful  ambition !  This  struggle  will  be  the 
great  interest  of  your  life;  while  the  Countess  Sarpi  will 
die  by  inches  and  in  obscurity,  imprisoned  in  the  four  walls 
of  her  house. — And  now  let  me  remind  you,  father,  and  you, 
count,  that  it  was  clearly  agreed,  as  the  condition  of  my 
obedience,  that  Senor  Fontanares  should  be  granted  by  the 
viceroy  of  Catalonia  a  further  extension  of  time,  for  the  com- 
pletion of  his  experiment. 

FONTANARES 
Marie,  how  can  I  live  without  you? 

MARIE 
How  could  you  live  in  the  hands  of  your  executioner? 


306  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

FONTANAEES 

Farewell !    I  am  ready  to  die. 

MARIE 

Did  you  not  make  a  solemn  promise  to  the  King  of  Spain, 
yes,  to  all  the  world?  (Speaks  low  to  Fontanares)  Oh !  seize 
your  triumph;  after  that  we  can  die! 

FONTANARES 
I  will  accept,  if  only  you  refuse  to  be  his. 

MARIE 
Father,  fulfill  your  promise. 

FAUSTINE 
I  have  triumphed! 

LOTHDNDIAZ  (in  a  low  voice  to  Fontanares) 

You  contemptible  seducer!  (Aloud)  Here  I  give  you  ten 
thousand  sequins.  (In  a  low  voice)  Atrocious  wretch! 
(Aloud)  My  daughter's  income  for  one  year.  (In  a  low 
voice)  May  the  plague  choke  you !  (Aloud)  Upon  the 
presentation  of  this  check,  Senor  Avaloros  will  count  out  to 
you  ten  thousand  sequins. 

FONTANARES 
But  does  the  viceroy  consent  to  this  arrangement  ? 

SARPI. 

You  have  publicly  accused  the  viceroy  of  Catalonia  of  bely- 
ing the  promises  of  the  king;  here  is  his  answer:  (he  draws 
forth  a  document)  By  this  ordinance,  he  puts  a  stay  on 
the  lawsuits  of  all  your  creditors,  and  grants  you  a  year  to 
complete  your  experiment. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  307 

FONTANARES 

I  am  ready  to  do  so. 

LOTHTJNDIAZ 

He  has  made  up  his  mind !  Come,  my  daughter ;  they  are 
expecting  us  at  the  Dominican  convent,  and  the  viceroy  has 
promised  to  honor  us  with  his  presence  at  the  ceremony. 

MARIE 

So  soon?     (Exeunt  the  whole  party.) 

FAUSTINA  (to  Paquita) 

Eun,  Paquita,  and  bring  me  word  when  the  ceremony  is 
ended,  and  they  are  man  and  wife. 


SCENE  SIXTEENTH. 
FAUSTINE  AND  FONTANARES. 

FAUSTINE  (aside) 

There  he  stands,  like  a  man  pausing  on  the  hrink  of  a 
precipice  to  which  tigers  have  pursued  him.  (Aloud)  Why 
are  not  you  as  great  as  your  creative  thought?  Is  there  but 
one  woman  in  the  world? 

FONTANARES 

What !  do  you  think  that  a  man  can  pluck  from  his  heart 
a  love  like  mine,  as  easily  as  he  draws  the  sword  from  its 
scabbard  ? 

FAUSTINE 

I  can  well  conceive  that  a  woman  should  love  you  and  do 
you  service.  But,  according  to  your  idea,  love  is  self-abdica- 
tion. All  that  the  greatest  men  have  ever  wished  for :  glory, 


308  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

honor,  fortune,  and  more  than  that,  a  triumphant  dominion 
which  genius  alone  can  establish — this  you  have  gained,  con- 
quering a  world  as  Caesar,  Lucullus  and  Luther  conquered 
before  you !  And  yet,  you  have  put  between  yourself  and 
this  splendid  existence  an  obstacle,  which  is  none  other  than 
a  love  worthy  of  some  student  of  Alcala.  By  birth  you  are 
a  giant,  and  of  your  own  will  you  are  dwindling  into  a  dwarf. 
But  a  man  of  genius  can  always  find,  among  women,  one 
woman  especially  created  for  him.  And  such  a  woman,  while 
in  the  eyes  of  men  she  is  a  queen,  for  him  is  but  a  servant, 
adapting  herself  with  marvelous  suppleness  to  the  chances  of 
life,  cheerful  in  suffering  and  as  far-sighted  in  misfortune  as 
in  prosperity;  above  all,  indulgent  to  his  caprices  and  know- 
ing well  the  world  and  its  perilous  changes ;  in  a  word,  capa- 
ble of  occupying  a  seat  in  his  triumphal  car  after  having 
helped  it  up  the  steepest  grades — 

FONTANAEES 

You  have  drawn  her  portrait. 

FAUSTINE 
Whose  ? 

FONTANARES 

Marie's ! 

FAUSTINE 

What !  Did  that  child  have  skill  to  protect  you  ?  Did  she 
divine  the  person  and  presence  of  her  rival?  And  was  she, 
who  had  suffered  you  to  be  overcome,  worthy  of  possessing 
you  for  her  own — she — the  child  who  has  permitted  herself  to 
be  drawn,  step  by  step,  to  the  altar  where  at  this  moment  she 
bestows  herself  upon  another? — If  it  had  been  I,  ere  this  I 
should  have  lain  dead  at  your  feet!  And  on  whom  has  she 
bestowed  herself  ?  On  your  deadliest  enemy,  who  had  accepted 
the  command  to  secure  the  shipwreck  of  your  hopes. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  309 

FONTANARES 

How  could  I  be  false  to  that  inextinguishable  love,  which 
has  thrice  come  to  my  succor,  which  has  eventually  saved 
me,  which,  having  no  sacrifice  but  itself  to  offer  on  the  altar 
of  misfortune,  accomplishes  the  immolation  with  one  hand, 
and,  with  the  other,  offers  to  me  in  this  (he  shows  the  letter) 
the  restoration  of  my  honor,  the  esteem  of  my  king,  the 
admiration  of  the  universe.  (Enter  Paquita,  who  makes  a 
sign  to  Faustine,  then  goes  out.) 

FAUSTINE  (aside) 

Ah!  Sarpi  has  now  his  countess.  (To  Fontanares)  Your 
life,  3'our  glory,  your  fortune,  your  honor,  are  at  last  in  my 
hands  alone!  Marie  no  longer  stands  between  us! 

FONTANARES 

Us !    us ! 

FAUSTINA 

Contradict  me  not,  Alfonso !  I  have  conquered  all  that  is 
yours ;  do  not  refuse  me  your  heart !  You  will  never  gain  a 
love  more  devoted,  more  submissive,  more  full  of  sympathy 
than  mine;  for  at  last  you  shall  become  the  great  man  that 
you  deserve  to  be. 

FONTANARES 

Your  audacity  astounds  me.  (He  shows  the  letter.)  With 
a  sum  of  money  guaranteed  me  here  I  am  once  more  the  sole 
arbiter  of  my  destiny.  When  the  king  sees  the  character  and 
the  results  of  my  work,  he  will  cancel  that  marriage,  which  has 
been  obtained  by  violence.  And  my  love  for  Marie  is  such 
that  I  can  wait  till  then. 

FAUSTINE 

Fontanares,  if  I  love  you  distractedly,  it  is  perhaps  be- 
cause of  that  delightful  simplicity,  which  is  the  badge  of 
genius — 


310  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

FONTANARES   (aside) 

Her  smile  freezes  me  to  the  heart. 

FAUSTINE 
That  gold  you  speak  of — is  it  already  in  your  possession  ? 

FONTANARES 
It  is  here. 

FAUSTINE 

And  would  I  have  let  them  give  that  to  you,  if  I  thought 
you  would  ever  receive  it?  To-morrow  you  will  find  all 
your  creditors  standing  between  you  and  the  possession  of 
that  sum,  which  you  owe  to  them.  What  can  you  accomplish 
without  gold  ?  Your  struggle  will  hegin  over  again  !  but  your 
work,  0  great,  but  simple  man,  has  not  been  dispersed  in 
fragments;  it  is  all  mine;  my  instrument,  Mathieu  Magis, 
has  acquired  possession  of  it.  I  hold  it  at  my  feet,  in  my  pal- 
ace. I  am  the  only  one  who  would  not  rob  you  either  of  your 
glory,  or  of  your  fortune,  for  what  would  this  be,  but  to  rob 
myself  ? 

FONTANARES 
It  is  you,  then,  cursed  Venetian  woman ! 

FAUSTINE 

Yes — since  the  moment  you  insulted  me,  upon  this  spot, 
I  have  directed  everything;  it  is  at  my  bidding  that  Magis, 
and  Sarpi,  and  your  creditors,  and  the  landlord  of  the  Golden 
Sun,  and  the  workmen  have  acted !  But  ah !  How  great  a 
love  underlay  this  simulated  hatred.  Tell  me,  have  you  never 
been  roused  from  your  slumber  by  a  falling  tear-drop,  the 
pearl  of  my  repentance,  while  I  was  gazing  at  you  with  ad- 
miration— you — the  martyr  that  I  worshiped? 

FONTANARES 
No !  you  are  not  a  woman — 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  311 

FATJSTINE 

Ah !  There  is  more  than  woman,  in  a  woman  who  loves  as 
I  do. 

FONTANARES 

And,  as  you  are  not  a  woman,  I  could  kill  you. 

FAUSTINE 

What  of  that,  provided  it  were  your  hand  that  did  it? 
(Aside)  He  hates  me! 

FONTANARES 
I  am  seeking  for — 

FAUSTINE 
Is  it  anything  I  can  find  for  you  ? 

FONTANARES 
A  punishment  great  enough  for  your  crime. 

FAUSTINE 

Can  there  be  any  punishment  which  a  woman  who  loves 
can  feel  ?  Come,  try  me. 

FONTANARES 

You  love  me,  Faustine.  Am  I  all  of  life  to  you?  Do  you 
really  make  my  grief  your  own? 

FAUSTINE 
One  pang  of  yours  becomes  a  thousand  pangs  to  me ! 

FOXTANARES 

If  then  I  die,  you  will  die  also.  'Tis  plain,  therefore,  al- 
though your  life  is  not  worthy  to  be  set  against  the  love  that 
I  have  lost,  my  course  is  taken. 

FAUSTINE 
Ah! 


312  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

FONTANARES 

With  crossed  arms  I  will  await  the  day  of  my  arrest.  At 
the  same  stroke  the  soul  of  Marie  and  my  soul  shall  rise  to 
heaven. 

FAUSTINE  (flinging  herself  at  the  feet  of  Fontanares) 

0  Alfonso !  Here,  at  your  feet,  I  will  remain  till  you  have 
promised  me — 

FONTANARES 

Leave  me,  shameless  courtesan !     (He  spurns  her.) 

FAUSTINE 

You  have  spoken  this  openly  and  in  public ;  but  remember, 
men  oftentimes  insult  that  which  they  are  destined  eventually 
to  adore. 


SCENE  SEVENTEENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  DON  FREGOSE. 

DON  FREGOSE. 

Silence !  wretched  journeyman !  I  refrain  from  transfixing 
your  heart  with  my  sword,  only  because  I  intend  you  to  pay 
more  dearly  for  this  insult. 

FAUSTINE 

Don  Fregose !  I  love  this  man ;  whether  he  makes  of  me 
his  slave  or  his  wife,  my  love  shall  be  the  aegis  of  his  life. 

FONTANARES 

Am  I  to  be  the  victim  of  fresh  persecutions,  my  lord?  I 
am  overwhelmed  with  joy.  Deal  me  a  thousand  blows;  they 
will  be  multiplied  a  thousand  fold,  she  says,  in  her  heart.  I 
am  ready ! 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  313 

SCENE  EIGHTEENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  QUINOLA. 

QOINOLA 

Sir! 

FONTANARES 

And  you  also  have  betrayed  me ;  you ! 

QUINOLA 

Off  goes  Monipodio,  wafted  towards  Africa  with  recom- 
mendations on  his  hands  and  feet. 

FONTANARES 
What  of  that  ? 

QUINOLA 

Under  the  pretext  of  robbing  you,  I  have  concealed  in  a  cel- 
lar a  second  machine,  for  I  took  care  that  two  should  be  made, 
while  we  only  paid  for  one. 

•  FONTANARES 

Thus  it  is  that  a  true  friend  renders  despair  impossible. 
(He  embraces  Quinola.}  (To  Frcgose)  My  lord,  write  to 
the  king  and  build,  overlooking  the  harbor,  an  amphitheatre 
for  two  hundred  thousand  spectators ;  in  ten  days  I  will  fulfill 
my  promise,  and  Spain  shall  behold  a  ship  propelled  by  steam 
in  the  face  of  wind  and  waves.  I  will  wait  until  there  is  a 
storin  that  I  may  show  how  I  can  prevail  against  it. 

FAUSTINE  (to  Quinola) 
You  have  manufactured  a  machine — 

QUINOLA 
No,  I  have  manufactured  two,  as  a  provision  against  ill-luck. 


314  RESOURCES  OF  QU1NOLA 

FAUSTINE 
What  devils  have  you  called  in  to  assist  you? 

QUINOLA 

The  three  children  of  Job:    Silence,  Patience  and  Per- 
severance.    (Exeunt  Fontanares  and  Quinola.) 


SCENE  NINETEENTH. 
FAUSTINE  AND  DON  FREGOSE. 

DON  FREGOSE  (aside) 
She  is  hateful,  and  yet  I  do  not  cease  to  love  her. 

FAUSTINE 
I  must  have  my  revenge.    Will  you  assist  me? 

DON  FREGOSE 
Yes,  and  we  will  yet  succeed  in  bringing  him  to  ruin. 

FAUSTINE 
Ah !  you  love  me  in  spite  of  all,  don't  you  ? 

Curtain  to  the  Fourth  Act. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  $15 


ACT  V. 


SCENE  FIRST. 

(The  setting  is  the  terrace  of  the  town-hall  of  Barcelona,  on 
each  side  of  which  are  pavilions.  The  terrace  looJcs  on  the 
sea  and  ends  in  a  balcony  in  the  centre  of  the  stage;  the  open 
sea  and  the  masts  of  vessels  form  the  scenery.  At  the  right  of 
the  spectator  appear  a  large  arm-chair  and  seats  set  before  a 
table.  The  murmur  of  an  immense  crowd  is  heard.  Leaning 
over  the  balcony  Faustine  gazes  at  the  steamship.  Lothun- 
diaz  stands  on  the  left,  in  a  condition  of  utter  stupefaction; 
Don  Fregose  is  seated  on  the  right  with  his  secretary,  who  is 
drawing  up  a  formal  account  of  the  experiment.  The  Grand 
Inquisitor  is  stationed  in  the  middle  of  the  stage.) 

LOTHUNDIAZ,  THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR  AND  DON  FREGOSE. 

DON  FREGOSE 

I  am  undone,  ruined,  disgraced !  Even  if  I  were  to  fall  at 
the  feet  of  the  king,  I  should  gain  no  pity  from  him. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

At  what  a  price  have  I  purchased  my  patent  of  nobility! 
My  son  has  been  killed  in  an  ambuscade  in  Flanders,  and  my 
daughter  is  dying;  her  husband,  the  governor  of  Koussillon, 
refused  her  permission  to  be  present  at  the  triumph  of  this 
devil  of  a  Fontanares.  How  well  she  spoke  when  she  said  that 
I  should  repent  of  my  wilful  blindness ! 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR  (to  Don  Fregose) 
The  Holy  Office  has  reminded  the  king  of  your  past  ser- 


316  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

vices;  you  will  be  sent  as  viceroy  to  Peru,  where  you  will  be 
able  to  repair  your  fortunes ;  but  first  finish  your  work  here ; 
let  us  crush  this  discoverer  and  check  the  progress  of  his  dan- 
gerous innovation. 

DON  FREGOSE 

But  how  can  we  do  so?  The  orders  of  the  king  must  be 
obeyed,  at  least  ostensibly. 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR 

We  have  taken  such  measures  that  obedience  may  be  ren- 
dered both  to  the  Holy  Office  and  to  the  king.  You  have  only 
to  do  as  you  are  bidden.  (To  Lothundiaz)  Count  Lothun- 
diaz,  as  the  first  municipal  officer  of  Barcelona,  you  must  offer 
to  Don  Ramon,  in  the  name  of  the  city,  a  crown  of  gold  in 
honor  of  his  discovery,  whose  result  will  secure  to  Spain  the 
domination  of  the  sea. 

LOTHDNDIAZ  (in  astonishment) 
To  Don  Ramon ! 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR  AND  DON  FREGOSE 
To  Don  Ramon. 

DON  FREGOSE 
You  must  address  a  eulogy  to  him. 

LOTHUNDIAZ 
But— 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR 
It  is  the  wish  of  the  Holy  Office  that  you  do  so. 

LOTHUNDIAZ   (kneeling) 
Pardon ! 

DON  FREGOSE 

What  is  that  the  people  are  calling  out?  (A  cry  is  heard, 
"Long  live  Don  Ramon!") 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  317 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

Long  live  Don  Ramon !  Yes  indeed,  and  so  much  the  bet- 
ter, for  I  shall  be  avenged  for  the  wrong  which  I  have  done  to 
myself. 


SCENE  SECOND. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  DON    RAMON,  MATHIEU  MAGIS,  THE 
LANDLORD  or  THE  GOLDEN  SUN;  COPPOLUS,  CARPANO, 

ESTEBAN,   GlRONE,  AND  ALL  THE   PEOPLE. 

( All  form  a  semicircle,  in  the  centre  of  which  is  Don  Ramon.) 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR 

In  the  name  of  the  king  of  Spain,  Castile  and  the  Indies, 
I  must  express  to  you,  Don  Eamon,  the  congratulations  of  all 
upon  the  success  of  your  _  mighty  genius.  (He  leads  him  to 
the  arm-chair.) 

DON  RAMON 

After  all,  he  is  but  the  hand,  I  am  the  head.  The  original 
idea  is  superior  to  the  work  of  realizing  it.  (To  the  crowd) 
In  such  a  moment  as  this,  modesty  would  be  an  insult  to  the 
honors  which  I  have  attained  through  midnight  vigils,  and  a 

man  should  openly  show  himself  proud  of  his  achievement. 

« 

LOTHUNDIAZ 

In  the  name  of  the  city  of  Barcelona,  Don  Ramon,  I  have 
the  honor  to  offer  you  this  crown,  due  to  your  perseverance, 
as  the  author  of  an  invention  which  will  give  you  immortality. 


318  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

SCENE  THIRD. 

THE   SAME   PERSONS   AND   FONTANARES    (his   garments 
soiled  with  the  work  of  his  experiment). 

DON  EAMON 

I  accept  these  honors,  on  condition  that  they  be  shared  by 
the  courageous  artisan  who  has  so  well  assisted  me  in  my 
enterprise. 

FAUSTINE 

What  modesty! 

FONTANARES 
Is  this  meant  for  a  joke  ? 

ALL 
Long  live  Don  Ramon ! 

COPPOLUS 

In  the  name  of  the  merchants  of  Catalonia,  Don  Ramon, 
we  have  come  to  beg  your  acceptance  of  this  silver  crown,  a 
token  of  their  gratitude  for  a  discovery  which  is  likely  to 
prove  a  new  source  of  prosperity  to  them. 

ALL 
Long  live  Don  Ramon! 

DON  HAMON 

It  is  with  the  keenest  pleasure  that  I  see  that  commerce 
recognizes  the  future  developments  of  steam  navigation. 

FONTANARES 

Let  my  laborers  come  forth!  You,  the  children  of  the 
people,  whose  hands  have  completed  my  work,  bear  witness  for 
me !  It  was  from  me  only  that  you  received  the  models.  Say 
now,  whether  it  was  Don  Ramon  or  I  who  originated  the  new 
power  which  the  sea  has  felt  to-day? 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA  319 

ESTEBAN 

By  my  faith,  you  would  have  been  in  a  pretty  fix  without 
Don  Ramon! 

MATHIEU  MAGIS 

It  was  two  years  ago,  in  the  course  of  a  conversation  with 
Don  Ramon,  that  he  begged  me  to  furnish  funds  for  this 
experiment. 

FONTANARES  (to  Fregose) 

My  lord,  what  strange  delusion  has  fallen  upon  the  people 
and  burgesses  of  Barcelona?  I  arrive  here  in  the  midst  of 
the  acclamations  with  which  Don  Eamon  is  being  greeted. 
Yes,  I  arrive  bearing  the  traces  of  the  vigils  and  sweat  of  this 
great  enterprise,  and  I  find  you  contentedly  sanctioning  the 
most  shameful  act  of  robbery  that  can  be  perpetrated  in  the 
face  of  heaven  and  earth.  (Murmurs.)  Alone  and  unpro- 
tected I  have  risked  my  life  on  this  enterprise.  I  was  the  first 
who  pledged  its  accomplishment  to  the  king,  and  unaided  I 
have  kept  my  pledge,  and  yet  here  in  my  place  I  find  Don 
Ramon — an  ignoramus.  (Murmurs.) 

DON  FREGOSE 

An  old  soldier  knows  very  little  about  scientific  matters  and 
must  accept  plain  facts.  All  Catalonia  concedes  to  Don 
Ramon  the  priority  in  this  invention,  and  everybody  here 
declares  that  without  him  you  could  have  accomplished  noth- 
ing. It  is  my  duty  to  inform  his  majesty,  the  king,  of  these 
circumstances. 

FONTANARES 

The  priority !    Where  are  the  proofs  of  this  ? 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOR 

They  are  as  follows :  In  his  treatise  on  the  casting  of  can- 
nons Don  Ramon  speaks  of  a  certain  invention  called  Thun- 
der, made  by  Leonardo  da  Vinci,  your  master,  and  says  that 
it  might  be  applied  to  the  navigation  of  a  ship. 


320  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

DON  RAMON 

Ah !  young  man,  acknowledge  that  you  had  read  my  treat- 
ises! 

FONTANARES   (aside] 
I  would  sacrifice  all  my  glory  for  one  hour  of  vengeance ! 


SCENE  FOURTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  QUINOLA. 

QUINOLA   (aside  to  Fontanares) 

Senor,  the  fruit  was  too  fair,  and  a  worm  has  heen  found 
in  it! 

FONTANARES 
What  do  you  mean? 

QUINOLA 

Hell  has  belched  back  upon  us,  I  know  not  how — Moni- 
podio,  all  on  fire  for  revenge;  he  is  on  board  the  ship  with  a 
band  of  devils,  and  swears  to  scuttle  it,  unless  you  guarantee 
him  ten  thousand  sequins. 

FONTANARES  (kneels) 

Thanks,  thanks,  for  that.  0  ocean,  whom  I  once  longed 
to  subdue,  thou  art  the  sole  protector  that  is  left  to  me ;  thou 
shalt  keep  my  secret  to  eternity!  (To  Quinola)  See  that 
Monipodio  steers  for  the  open  sea  and  there  scuttles  the 
ship. 

QUINOLA 

What  is  this  ?  Do  I  understand  you  aright  ?  Which  of  us 
two  has  lost  his  head? 

FONTANARES 
Do  as  I  bid  vou. 


RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA.  32i 

QDINOLA 
But,  my  dear  master — 

FONTANARES 

My  life  and  yours  are  equally  at  stake. 

QUINOLA 

Obey,  without  understanding  why?    For  the  first  time  I'll 
risk  it.     (Exit.) 


SCENE  FIFTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  WITH  THE  EXCEPTION  OF  QUINOLA. 

FONTANARES  (to  Don  Fregose) 

My  lord !  putting  aside  the  question  of  priority,  which  can 
easily  be  decided,  may  I  be  permitted  to  withdraw  my  name 
from  this  debate,  begging  of  you  to  accept  the  statement  which 
is  here  drawn  up  and  contains  my  justification  before  the 
king  our  master? 

DON  RAMON 
You  acknowledge  then  my  claim? 

FONTANARES 

I  will  acknowledge  anything  you  like,  even  to  the  point 
that  0  plus  0  is  a  binomial ! 

DON  FREGOSE  (after  consulting  with  the  Grand  Inquisitor} 
Your  demand  is  perfectly  legitimate;  we  will  forward  a 
copy  of  your  statement,  preserving  here  the  original. 

FONTANARES 

I  have,  then,  escaped  with  my  life.  Let  me  ask  all  of  you 
here  present,  if  you  look  upon  Don  Ramon  as  the  real  inven- 


322  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

tor  of  the  vessel  which  has  been  propelled  by  steam  before  the 
eyes  of  two  hundred  thousand  Spaniards? 

ALL. 
We  do.     (Quinola  makes  his  appearance.) 

FONTANARES 

Very  good.  Don  Kamon  has  accomplished  this  prodigy. 
Don  Ramon  can  begin  his  work  again.  (A  loud  explosion  is 
heard.)  The  prodigy  is  no  longer  in  existence.  The  employ- 
ment of  such  a  force  is  not  without  danger,  and  the  dan- 
ger which  Don  Ramon  had  not  foreseen,  has  manifested  itself, 
at  the  very  moment  while  Don  Ramon  was  receiving  your 
congratulations!  (Cries  in  the  distance;  everybody  rushes 
to  the  balcony  and  gazes  seaward.)  I  am  avenged! 

DON  FBEGOSE 
What  will  the  king  say? 

THE  GRAND  INQUISITOK 

France  is  all  ablaze,  the  low  countries  in  revolt,  Calvin 
is  stirring  up  all  Europe ;  the  king  has  too  much  business  on 
his  hands  to  worry  himself  about  the  loss  of  a  ship.  This  new 
invention  and  the  Reformation  would  have  been  too  much  at 
one  time  for  the  world !  Now  for  some  years  the  rapacity 
of  maritime  peoples  has  been  checked.  (Exeunt  omnes.)  .  , 


SCENE  SIXTH. 
QUINOLA,  FONTANARES  AND  FAUSTINE. 

FAUSTINE 
Alfonso,  I  have  done  you  much  wrong. 


RESOURCES  OP  QUINOLA  323 

FONTANARES 

Marie  is  dead,  senora;  I  do  not  know  the  meaning  of  the 
words  right  and  wrong,  nowadays. 

QUINOLA 
There  is  a  man  for  you. 

FAUSTINE 
Forgive  me,  and  I  will  devote  myself  to  your  future. 

FONTANARES 

Forgiveness!  That  word  also  has  been  erased  from  my 
heart.  There  are  situations  in  which  the  heart  either  breaks 
or  turns  to  bronze.  I  am  scarcely  twenty-five  years  old,  but 
to-day  you  have  changed  me  into  a  man  of  fifty.  You  have 
lost  to  me  one  world,  now  you  owe  me  another — 

QUINOLA 
Let  us  turn  our  attention  to  politics. 

FAUSTINE 
And  is  not  my  love,  Alfonso,  worth  a  world? 

FONTANARES 

Yes,  for  you  are  a  magnificent  instrument  of  ruin  and 
devastation.  Yet  it  will  be  by  means  of  you  that  I  shall  crush 
all  those  who  have  been  an  obstacle  in  my  pathway;  I  take 
you,  not  for  my  wife,  but  for  my  slave,  and  you  shall  serve  me. 

FAUSTINA 
Serve  you  blindly. 

FONTANARES 

But  without  hope  that  there  will  be  any  return — need  I 
say  of  what?  All  here  (he  strikes  his  hand  upon  his  heart)  is 
of  bronze.  You  have  taught  me  what  this  world  is  made  of. 


324  RESOURCES  OF  QUINOLA 

0  world  of  self-interest,  of  trickery,  of  policy  and  of  perfidy, 

1  defy  you  to  the  combat ! 

QUINOLA 
Sen or? 

FONTANARES 

What  is  it? 

QUINOLA 
Am  I  in  it  with  you  ? 

FONTANARES 

You?  You  are  the  only  one  who  has  still  a  place  in  my 
heart.  We  three  will  stand  together :  we  will  go — 

FAUSTINE 
Where? 

FONTANARES 
We  will  go  to  France. 

FAUSTINE 

Let  us  start  at  once ;  I  know  these  Spaniards,  and  they  are 
sure  to  plot  your  death. 

QUINOLA 

The  resources  of  Quinola  are  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea.  Be 
kind  enough  to  excuse  his  faults;  he  will  doubtless  do  better 
at  Paris.  Verily,  I  believe  that  hell  is  paved  with  good 
inventions. 

Final  Curtain. 


PAMELA  GIRAUD 
A  PLAY  IN  FIVE  ACTS 


Presented  for  the  First  Time  at  Paris  at  the  Theatre  de  la  Gaite, 
September  26, 1843- 


(325) 


PERSONS  OF  THE  PLAY 

GENERAL  DE  VERBY. 

DUPRE,  a  lawyer. 

ROUSSEAU,  a  wealthy  merchant. 

JULES  ROUSSEAU,  his  son. 

JOSEPH  BINET. 

GIRAUD,  a  porter. 

CHIEF  OF  SPECIAL  POLICE. 

ANTOINE,  servant  to  the  Rousseaus. 

PAMELA  GIRAUD. 

MADAME  DU  BROCARD,  a  widow ;  aunt  of  Jules  Rousseau. 

MADAME  ROUSSEAU. 

MADAME  GIRAUD. 

JUSTINE,  chambermaid  to  Mme.  Rousseau. 

SHERIFF. 
MAGISTRATE. 
POLICE  OFFICERS. 
GENDARMES. 

SCENE  :  Paris.     TIME  :  during  the  Napoleonic  plots  under 
Louis  XVIII.  (1815-1824). 


(327) 


PAMELA  GIRAUD 


ACT  I. 


SCENE  FIRST. 

(Setting  is  an  attic  and  workshop  of  an  artificial  flower- 
maker.  It  is  poorly  lighted  by  means  of  a  candle  placed  on 
the  work-table.  The  ceiling  slopes  abruptly  at  the  back  allow- 
ing space  to  conceal  a  man.  On  the  right  is  a  door,  on  the 
left  a  fireplace.  Pamela  is  discovered  at  work,  and  Joseph 
Binet  is  seated  near  her.} 

PAMELA,  JOSEPH  BINET  AND  LATER  JULES  ROUSSEAU. 

PAMELA 
Monsieur  Joseph  Binet ! 

JOSEPH 
Mademoiselle  Pamela  Giraud ! 

PAMELA 

I  plainly  see  that  you  wish  me  to  hate  you. 

JOSEPH 

The  idea  !  What  ?  And  this  is  the  beginning  of  our  love — 
Hate  me ! 

PAMELA 

Oh,  come !    Let  us  talk  sensibly. 

(329) 


330  .  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

JOSEPH 

You  do  not  wish,  then,  that  I  should  express  how  much  I 
love  you  ? 

PAMELA 

Ah !  I  may  as  well  tell  you  plainly,  since  you  compel  me 
to  do  so,  that  I  do  not  wish  to  become  the  wife  of  an  uphol- 
sterer's apprentice. 

JOSEPH 

Is  it  necessary  to  become  an  emperor,  or  something  like  that, 
in  order  to  marry  a  flower-maker  ? 

PAMELA 

No.  But  it  is  necessary  to  be  loved,  and  I  don't  love  you 
in  any  way  whatever. 

JOSEPH 
In  any  way !    I  thought  there  was  only  one  way  of  loving. 

PAMELA 

So  there  is,  but  there  are  many  ways  of  not  loving.  You 
can  be  my  friend,  without  my  loving  you. 

JOSEPH 
Oh! 

PAMELA 

I  can  look  upon  you  with  indifference — 

JOSEPH 
Ah! 

PAMELA 

You  can  be  odious  to  me ! — And  at  this  moment  you  weary 
me,  which  is  worse ! 

JOSEPH 

I  weary  her !  I  who  would  cut  myself  into  fine  pieces  to 
do  all  that  she  wishes ! 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  331 

PAMELA 
If  you  would  do 'what  I  wish,  you  would  not  remain  here. 

JOSEPH 
And  if  I  go  away — Will  you  love  me  a  little  ? 

PAMELA 
Yes,  for  the  only  time  I  like  you  is  when  you  are  away ! 

JOSEPH 
And  if  I  never  came  back? 

PAMELA 
I  should  be  delighted. 

JOSEPH 

Zounds !  Why  should  I,  senior  apprentice  with  M.  Morel, 
instead  of  aiming  at  setting  up  business  for  myself,  fall  in 
love  with  this  young  lady  ?  It  is  folly  !  It  certainly  hinders 
me  in  my  career;  and  yet  I  dream  of  her — I  am  infatuated 
with  her.  Suppose  my  uncle  knew  it ! — But  she  is  not  the 
only  woman  in  Paris,  and,  after  all,  Mile.  Pamela  Giraud, 
who  are  you  that  you  should  be  so  high  and  mighty  ? 

PAMELA 

I  am  the  daughter  of  a  poor  ruined  tailor,  now  become  a 
porter.  I  gain  my  own  living — if  working  night  and  day  can 
be  called  living — and  it  is  with  difficulty  that  I  snatch  a  little 
holiday  to  gather  lilacs  in  the  Pres-Saint-Gervais ;  and  I  cer- 
tainly recognize  that  the  senior  apprentice  of  M.  Morel  is  alto- 
gether too  good  for  me.  I  do  not  wish  to  enter  a  family 
which  believes  that  it  would  thus  form  a  mesalliance.  The 
Binets  indeed ! 

JOSEPH 

But  what  has  happened  to  you  in  the  last  eight  or  ten  days, 
my  dear  little  pet  of  a  Pamela  ?  Up  to  ten  days  ago  I  used 


332  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

to  come  and  cut  out  your  flowers  for  yon,  I  used  to  make  the 
stalks  for  the  roses,  and  the  hearts  for  the* violets;  we  used  to 
talk  together,  we  sometimes  used  to  go  to  the  play,  and  have 
a  good  cry  there — and  I  was  "good  Joseph,"  "my  little 
Joseph''" — a  Joseph  in  fact  of  the  right  stuff  to  make  your 
husband.  All  of  a  sudden — Pshaw !  I  became  of  no  account. 

PAMELA 

Now  you  must  really  go  away.  Here  you  are  neither  in  the 
street,  nor  in  your  own  house. 

JOSEPH 

Very  well,  I'll  be  off,  mademoiselle — yes,  I'll  go  away !  I'll 
have  a  talk  in  the  porter's  lodge  with  your  mother;  she  does 
not  ask  anything  better  than  my  entrance  into  the  family,  not 
she ;  she  won't  change  her  mind ! 

PAMELA 

All  right !  Instead  of  entering  her  family,  enter  her  lodge, 
the  porter's  lodge,  M.  Joseph !  Go  and  talk  with  my  mother, 
go  on ! — (Exit  Joseph.)  Perhaps  he'll  keep  their  attention  so 
that  M.  Adolph  can  get  up  stairs  without  being  seen.  Adolph 
Durand  !  What  a  pretty  name !  There  is  half  a  romance  in 
it !  And  what  a  handsome  young  man !  For  the  last  fifteen 
days  he  has  absolutely  persecuted  me.  I  knew  that  I  was 
rather  pretty ;  but  I  never  believed  I  was  all  he  called  me.  He 
must  be  an  artist,  or  a  government  official !  Whatever  he  is,  I 
can't  help  liking  him ;  he  is  so  aristocratic !  But  what  if  his 
appearance  were  deceitful,  and  there  were  anything  wrong 
about  him ! — For  the  letter  which  he  has  just  sent  me  has  an 
air  of  mystery  about  it — (She  draivs  a  Utter  from  her  bosom 
and  reads  it)  "Expect  me  this  evening.  I  wish  to  see  you 
alone,  and,  if  possible,  to  enter  unnoticed  by  any  one ;  my  life 
is  in  danger,  and  oh  !  if  you  only  knew  what  a  terrible  mis- 
fortune threatens  me !  Adolph  Durand."  He  writes  in  pencil. 
His  life  is  in  danger — Ah !  How  anxious  I  feel ! 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  333 

JOSEPH  (returning) 

Just  as  I  was  going  down  stairs,  I  said  to  myself:  "Why 
should  Pamela" — (Jules'  head  appears  at  the  window.) 

PAMELA 
Ah! 

JOSEPH 
What's  the  matter?  (Jules  disappears.) 

PAMELA 

I  thought  I  saw — I  mean — I  thought  I  heard  a  sound  over- 
head. Just  go  into  the  garret.  Some  one  perhaps  has  hidden 
there.  You  are  not  afraid,  are  you? 

JOSEPH 
No. 

PAMELA 

Very  well !  Go  up  and  search !  Otherwise  I  shall  be  fright- 
ened for  the  whole  night. 

JOSEPH 

I  will  go  at  once.     I  will  climb  over  the  roof  if  you  like. 
(He  passes  through  a  narrow  door  that  leads  to  the  garret.) 

PAMELA  (follows  him) 

Be  quick!  (Jules  enters.)  Ah!  sir,  what  trouble  you  are 
giving  me ! 

JULES 

It  is  to  save  my  life,  and  perhaps  you  will  never  regret  it. 
You  know  how  much  I  love  you  !  (He  Tcisses  her  hand.) 

PAMELA 
I  know  that  you  have  told  me  so;  but  you.  treat  me — 

JULES 
As  my  deliverer. 


334  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

PAMELA 

You  wrote  to  me — and  your  letter  has  filled  me  with  trouble 
— I  know  neither  who  you  are — 

JOSEPH  (from  the  outer  room) 

Mademoiselle,  I  am  in  the  garret.     I  have  looked  over  the 
whole  roof. 

JULES 
He  is  coming  back — Where  can  I  hide? 


JULES 
You  wish  to  ruin  me,  Pamela ! 

PAMELA 

Look,  hide  yourself  there!      (She  points  to  the   cranny 
under  the  sloping  roof.)     • 

JOSEPH  (returning) 
Are  you  alone,  mademoiselle? 

PAMELA 
No;  for  are  not  you  here? 

JOSEPH 

I  heard  something  like  the  voice  of  a  man.    The  voice  came 
from  below. 

PAMELA 

Nonsense,  more  likely  it  came  from  above — Look  down 
the  staircase — 

JOSEPH 
Oh!     But  I  am  sure — 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  335 

PAMELA 
Nonsense,  sure.  Leave  me,  sir;  I  wish  to  be  alone. 

JOSEPH 
Alone,  with  a  man's  voice? 

PAMELA 
I  suppose  you  don't  believe  me? 

JOSEPH 
But  I  heard  it  plain  enough. 

PAMELA 
You  heard  nothing. 

JOSEPH 
Ah !  Pamela ! 

PAMELA 

If  you  prefer  to  believe  the  sounds  which  you  say  reached 
your  ears,  rather  than  the  words  which  I  speak,  you  would 
make  a  very  bad  husband.  That  is  quite  sufficient  for  me. 

JOSEPH 
That  doesn't  prove  that  I  did  not  hear — 

PAMELA 

Since  I  can't  convince  you,  you  can  believe  what  you  like. 
Yes !  you  did  hear  a  voice,  the  voice  of  a  young  man,  who  is 
in  love  with  me,  and  who  does  whatever  I  wish — He  disap- 
pears when  he  is  asked,  and  comes  when  he  is  wanted.  And 
now  what  are  you  waiting  for  ?  Do  you  think  that  while  he  is 
here,  your  presence  can  be  anything  but  disagreeable  to  us? 
Go  and  ask  my  father  and  mother  what  his  name  is.  He  must 
have  told  them  when  he  came  up-stairs — he,  and  the  voice  you 
heard. 


336 


Mile.  Pamela,  forgive  a  poor  youth  who  is  mad  with  love. 
It  is  not  only  my  heart  that  I  have  lost,  but  my  head  also, 
when  I  think  of  you.  I  know  that  you  are  just  as  good  as 
you  are  beautiful,  I  know  that  you  have  in  your  soul  more 
treasures  of  sweetness  than  you  ever  show,  and  so  I  know  that 
you  are  right,  and  were  I  to  hear  ten  voices,  were  I  to  see  ten 
men  here,  I  would  care  nothing  about  it.  But  one — 

PAMELA 
Well,  what  of  it? 

JOSEPH 

A  single  one — that  is  what  wounds  me.  But  I  must  be 
off;  it  seems  funny  that  I  should  have  said  all  that  to  you. 
I  know  quite  well  that  there  is  no  one  here  but  you.  Till  we 
meet  again,  Mile.  Pamela ;  I  am  going — I  trust  you. 

PAMELA  (aside) 
He  evidently  does  not  feel  quite  sure. 

JOSEPH  (aside) 

There  is  some  one  here!  I  will  run  down  and  tell  the 
whole  matter  to  her  father  and  mother.  (Aloud)  Adieu, 
Mile.  Pamela.  (Exit.) 


SCENE  SECOND. 
PAMELA  AND  JULES. 

PAMELA 

M.  Adolph,  you  see  to  what  you  are  exposing  me.  That 
poor  lad  is  a  workman,  a  most  kind-hearted  fellow;  he  has 
an  uncle  rich  enough  to  set  him  up  in  business ;  he  wishes  to 


PAMELA  GTRAUD  337 

marry  me,  and  in  one  moment  I  have  lost  my  prospects — 
and  for  whom?  I  do  not  know  you,  and  from  the  manner 
in  which  you  imperil  the  reputation  of  a  young  girl  who  has 
no  capital  but  her  good  behavior,  I  conclude  that  you  think 
you  have  the  right  to  do  so.  You  are  rich  and  you  make 
?  sport  of  poor  people ! 

JULES 

No,  my  dear  Pamela.  I  know  who  you  are,  and  I  take  you 
at  your  true  value.  'I  love  you,  I  am  rich,  and  we  will  never 
leave  one  another.  My  traveling  carriage  is  with  a  friend,  at 
the  gate  of  St.  Denis;  we  will  proceed  on  foot  to  catch  it; 
I  intend  embarking  for  England.  You  must  come  with  me. 
I  cannot  explain  my  intentions  now,  for  the  least  delay  may 
prove  fatal  to  me. 

PAMELA 

What  do  you  mean? 

JULES 
You  shall  see — 

PAMELA 

Are  you  in  your  right  senses,  M.  Adolph?  After  having 
followed  me  about  for  a  month,  seen  me  twice  at  a  dance, 
written  me  several  declarations,  such  as  young  men  of  your 
sort  write  to  any  and  every  woman,  you  point-blank  propose 
an  elopement! 

JULES 

Oh  I  beg  of  you,  don't  delay  an  instant !    You'll  repent  of 
this  for  the  rest  of  your  life,  and  you  will  see  too  late  what 
'  mischief  you  have  done. 

PAMELA 

But,  my  dear  sir,  you  can  perhaps  explain  yourself  in  a 
couple  of  words. 

JULES 

No, — for  the  secret  is  a  matter  of  life  and  death  to  several 
persons. 


338  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

PAMELA 

If  it  were  only  to  save  your  life,  whoever  you  are,  I  would 
do  a  good  deal ;  but  what  assistance  could  I  be  to  you  in  your 
flight !  Why  do  you  want  to  take  me  to  England  ? 

JULES 

What  a  child  you  are!  No  one,  of  course,  would  suspect 
anything  of  two  runaway  lovers  !  And,  let  me  tell  you,  I  love 
you  well  enough  to  disregard  everything  else,  and  even  to 
brave  the  anger  of  my  parents — Once  we  are  married  at 
Gretna  Green — 

PAMELA 

Oh,  mon  Dieu!  I  am  quite  non-plussed!  Here's  a  hand- 
some young  man  urges  you — implores  you — and  talks  of 
marriage — 

JULES 

They  are  mounting  the  staircase — I  am  lost! — You  have 
betrayed  me ! — 

PAMELA 

M.  Adolph,  you  alarm  me !  What  is  going  to  happen  ? 
Wait  a  moment,  I  will  go  and  see. 

JULES 

In  any  case,  take  and  keep  this  twenty  thousand  francs. 
It  will  be  safer  with  you  than  in  the  hands  of  the  police — 
I  have  only  half  an  hour  longer  and  all  will  be  over. 

PAMELA 
There  is  nothing  to  fear — It  is  only  my  father  and  mother. 

JULES 

You  have  the  kindness  of  an  angel.  I  trust  my  fate  with 
you.  But  you  must  know  that  both  of  us  must  leave  this 
house  at  once;  and  I  swear  on  my  honor,  that  nothing  but 
good  shall  result  to  you.  (He  hides  again  under  the  roof.) 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  339 

SCENE  THIRD. 
PAMELA,  M.  GIRAUD  AND  MME.  GIRAUD. 

PAMELA  (who  stands  in  such  way  as  to  prevent  her  parents 
from  entering  fully  into  the  room;  aside) 

Evidently  here  is  a  man  in  danger — and  a  man  who  loves 
me — two  reasons  why  I  should  be  interested  in  him. 

MME.  GIRAUD 

How  is  this,  Pamela — you  the  solace  of  all  our  misfortunes, 
the  prop  of  our  old  age,  our  only  hope ! 

GIRAUD 
A  girl  brought  up  on  the  strictest  principles. 

MME.  GIRAUD 

Keep  quiet,  Giraud !  You  don't  know  what  you  are  talking 
about. 

GIRAUD 
Certainly,  Madame  Giraud. 

MME.  GIRAUD 

And  besides  all  this,  Pamela,  your  example  was  cited  in 
all  the  neighborhood  as  a  girl  who'd  be  useful  to  your  parents 
in  their  declining  years ! 

GIRAUD 
And  worthy  to  receive  the  prize  of  virtue ! 

PAMELA 
Then  what  is  the  meaning  of  all  these  reproaches? 


340  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

MME.  GIRAUD 

Joseph  has  just  told  us  that  you  had  a  man  hidden  in  your 
room. 

GIEAUD 

Yes — he  heard  the  voice. 

\ 

MME.  GIRAUD 

Silence,  Giraud! — Pamela — pay  no  attention  to  your 
father — •• 

PAMELA 

And  do  you,  mother,  pay  no  attention  to  Joseph. 

GIRAUD 

What  did  I  tell  you  on  the  stairs,  Madame  Giraud  ?  Pamela 
knows  how  we  count  upon  her.  She  wishes  to  make  a  good 
match  as  much  on  our  account  as  on  her  own;  her  heart 
bleeds  to  see  us  porters,  us,  the  authors  of  her  life !  She  is 
too  sensible  to  blunder  in  this  matter.  Is  it  not  so,  my  child, 
you  would  not  deceive  your  father  ? 

MME.  GIRAUD 

There  is  nobody  here,  is  there,  my  love?  For  a  young 
working-girl  to  have  any  one  in  her  room,  at  ten  o'clock  at 
night — well — she  runs  a  risk  of  losing — 

PAMELA 

But  it  seems  to  me  that  if  I  had  any  one  you  would  have 
seen  him  on  his  way  up. 

GIRAUD 
She  is  right. 

MME.  GIRAUD 

She  does  not  answer  straight  out.  Please  open  the  door  of 
this  room. 

PAMELA 
Mother,  stop !    Do  not  come  in  here, — yon  shall  not  come  in 


PAMELA  GTRAUD  341 

here ! — Listen  to  me ;  as  I  love  you,  mother,  and  you,  father, 
I  have  nothing  to  reproach  myself  with ! — and  I  swear  to  it 
before  God ! — Do  not  in  a  moment  withdraw  from  your 
daughter  the  confidence  which  you  have  had  in  her  for  so 
long  a  time. 

MME.  GIRADD 

But  why  not  tell  us  ? 

PAMELA  (aside) 

Impossible !  If  they  were  to  see  this  young  man  every  one 
would  soon  know  all  about  it. 

GIRAUD  (interrupting  her) 
We  are  your  father  and  mother,  and  we  must  see ! 

PAMELA 

For  the  first  time  in  my  life,  I  refuse  to  obey  you! — But 
you  force  me  to  it! — These  lodgings  are  rented  by  me  from 
the  earnings  of  my  work ! — I  am  of  age  and  mistress  of  my 
own  actions. 

MME.  GIRAUD 

Ah,  Pamela !  Can  this  be  you,  on  whom  we  have  placed 
all  our  hopes ! 

GIRAUD 

You  will  ruin  yourself! — and  I  shall  remain  a  porter  to 
the  end  of  my  days. 

PAMELA 

You  needn't  be  afraid  of  that!  Well — I  admit  that  there 
is  some  one  here;  but  silence!  You  must  go  down-stairs 
again  to  your  lodge.  You  must  tell  Joseph  that  he  does  not 
know  what  he  is  talking  about,  that  you  have  searched  every- 
where, that  there  is  no  one  in  my  lodging;  you  must  send 
him  away — then  you  shall  see  this  young  man;  you  shall 


342  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

learn  what  I  purpose  doing.     But  you  must  keep  everything 
the  most  profound  secret. 

GIRAUD 

Unhappy  girl!    What  do  you  take  us  for?     (He  sees  the 
banknotes  on  the  table.)  Ah!  what  is  this?    Banknotes! 

MME.  GIRAUD 

Banknotes!     (She  recoils  from  Pamela.)     Pamela,  where 
did  you  get  them  ? 

PAMELA 
I  will  tell  you  when  I  write. 

GIRAUD 
When  you  write !    She  must  be  going  to  elope ! 


SCENE  FOURTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  AND  JOSEPH  BINET. 

JOSEPH  (entering) 

I  was  quite  sure  that  there  was  something  wrong  about 
him ! — He  is  a  ringleader  of  theives !  The  gendarmes,  the 
magistrate,  all  the  excitement  she  showed  mean  something — 
and  now  the  house  is  surrounded  I 

JULES  (appearing) 
I  am  lost ! 

PAMELA 
I  have  done  all  that  I  could ! 

GIRAUD 
And  you,  sir,  who  are  you? 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  343 

JOSEPH 
Are  you  a — ? 

MME.  GIRAUD 
Speak ! 

JULES 

But  for  this  idiot,  I  could  have  escaped !  You  will  now 
have  the  ruin  of  an  innocent  man  on  your  consciences. 

PAMELA 
M.  Adolph,  are  you  innocent  ? 

JULES 
I  am! 

PAMELA 

What  shall  we  do?  (Pointing  to  the  dormer  window.) 
You  can  elude  their  pursuit  that  way  out.  (She  opens  the 
dormer  window  and  finds  the  police  agents  on  the  roof  out- 
side.) 

JULES 

It  is  too  late.  All  you  can  do  is  to  confirm  my  statement. 
You  must  declare  that  I  am  your  daughter's  lover;  that  I 
have  asked  you  to  give  her  in  marriage  to  me;  that  I  am  of 
age ;  that  my  name  is  Adolph  Durand,  son  of  a  rich  business 
man  of  Marseilles. 

GIRAUD 

He  offers  her  lawful  love  and  wealth ! — Young  man,  I  will- 
ingly take  you  under  my  protection. 


SCENE  FIFTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  A  SHERIFF,  A  POLICE  OFFICER  AND 
GENDARMES. 

GIRAUD 

Sir,  what  right  have  you  to  enter  an  occupied  dwelling — the 
domicile  of  a  peaceable  young  girl  ? 


344  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

JOSEPH 
Yes,  what  right  have  you —  ? 

THE  SHERIFF 

Young  man,  don't  you  worry  about  our  right ! — A  few  mo- 
ments ago  you  were  very  friendly  and  showed  us  where  the 
unknown  might  be  found,  but  now  you  have  suddenly  changed 
your  tune. 

PAMELA 
But  what  are  you  looking  for  ?    What  do  you  want  ? 

THE  SHERIFF 

You  seem  to  be  well  aware  that  we  are  looking  for  some- 
body. 

GIRAUD 

Sir,  my  daughter  has  no  one  with  her  but  her  future  hus- 
band, M. 

THE  SHERIFF 
Eousseau. 

PAMELA 
M.  Adolph  Durand. 

GIRAUD 

Eousseau  I  don't  know. — The  gentleman  I  refer  to  is  M 
Adolph  Durand. 

MME.  GIRAUD 
Son  of  a  respectable  merchant  of  Marseilles. 

JOSEPH 

Ah !  you  have  been  deceiving  me !  Ah ! — That  is  the  secret 
of  your  coldness,  and  he  is — 

THE  SHERIFF  (to  the  Officer  of  Police) 
This  does  not  seem  to  be  the  man? 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  345 

THE  OFFICES 

Oh,  yes,  I  am  quite  sure  of  it!  (To  the  gendarmes')  Carry 
out  my  orders. 

JULES 

Monsieur,  I  am  the  victim  of  some  mistake;  my  name  is 
not  Jules  Rousseau. 

THE  OFFICER 

Ah !  but  you  know  his  first  name,  which  none  of  us  has  as 
yet  mentioned. 

JULES 

But  I  heard  some  one  say  it.  Here  are  my  papers,  which 
are  perfectly  correct. 

THE  SHERIFF 
Let  me  see  them,  please. 

GIRAUD 
Gentlemen,  I  assure  you  and  declare  to  you — 

THE  OFFICER 

If  you  go  on  in  this  way,  and  wish  to  make  us  believe  that 
this  gentleman  is  Adolph  Durand,  son  of  a  merchant  of — 

HME.  GIRAUD 
Of  Marseilles — 

THE  OFFICER 

You  may  all  be  arrested  as  his  accomplices,  locked  up  in 
jail  this  evening,  and  implicated  in  an  affair  from  which 
you  will  not  easily  get  off.  Have  you  any  regard  for  the 
safety  of  your  neck? 

GIRAUD 
A  great  deal ! 

THE  OFFICER 
Very  well !   Hold  your  tongue,  then. 


346  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

MME.  GIRAUD 
Do  hold  your  tongue,  Giraud ! 

PAMELA 
Merciful  heaven !    Why  did  I  not  believe  him  at  once ! 

THE  SHERIFF  (to  his  agents) 

Search  the  gentleman!  (The  agent  takes  out  Jules'  pocket 
handkerchief. ) 

THE  OFFICER 

It  is  marked  with  a  J  and  an  E.  My  dear  sir,  you  are  not 
very  clever! 

JOSEPH 

What  can  he  have  done  ?  Have  you  anything  to  do  with  it, 
mademoiselle  ? 

PAMELA 

You  are  the  sole  cause  of  the  trouble.  Never  speak  to  me 
again ! 

THE  OFFICER 

Monsieur,  here  we  have  the  check  for  your  dinner — you 
dined  at  the  Palais  Royal.  While  you  were  there  you  wrote  a 
letter  in  pencil.  One  of  your  friends  brought  the  letter  here. 
His  name  was  M.  Adolph  Durand,  and  he  lent  you  his  pass- 
port. We  are  certain  of  your  identity;  you  are  M.  Jules 
Eousseau. 

JOSEPH 

The  son  of  the  rich  M.  Eousseau,  whose  house  we  are  fur- 
nishing ? 

THE  SHERIFF 
Hold  your  tongue ! 

THE  OFFICER 
You  must  come  with  us. 


347 


Certainly,  monsieur.  (To  Giraud  and  his  wife)  Forgive 
the  annoyance  I  have  caused  you — and  you,  Pamela,  do  not 
forget  me !  If  you  do  not  see  me  again,  you  may  keep  what 
I  gave  into  your  hands,  and  may  it  bring  you  happiness! 

GlEAUD 

OLord! 

PAMELA 
Poor  Adolph! 

THE  SHERIFF  (to  his  agents) 

Remain  here.  We  are  going  to  search  this  attic,  and  ques- 
tion every  one  of  these  people. 

JOSEPH  (with  a  gesture  of  horror) 

Ah ! — she  prefers  a  criminal  to  me !  (Jules  is  put  in  charge 
of  the  agents.) 

Curtain  to  the  First  Act. 


348  PAMELA  GIRAUD 


ACT  II. 


SCENE  FIRST. 

(The  setting  is  a  drawing-room  in  the  Rousseau  mansion. 
Antoine  is  looking  through  the  newspaper.) 

ANTOINE  AND  JUSTINE. 

JUSTINE 
Well,  Antoine,  have  you  read  the  papers? 

ANTOINE 

I  am  reading  them.  Isn't  it  a  pity  that  we  servants  cannot 
learn,  excepting  through  the  papers,  what  is  going  on  in  the 
trial  of  M.  Jules? 

JUSTINE 

And  yet  the  master  and  mistress  and  Mme.  du  Brocard, 
their  sister,  know  nothing.  M.  Jules  has  been  for  three 
months — in — what  do  they  call  it? — in  close  confinement. 

ANTOINE 

The  arrest  of  the  young  man  has  evidently  attracted  great 
attention — 

JUSTINE 

It  seems  absurd  to  think  that  a  young  man  who  had  noth- 
ing to  do  but  amuse  himself,  who  would  some  day  inherit  his 
aunt's  income  of  twenty  thousand  francs,  and  his  father's 
and  mother's  fortune,  which  is  quite  double  that  amount, 
should  be  mixed  up  in  a  conspiracy ! 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  349 

ANTOINE 

I  admire  him  for  it,  for  they  were  plotting  to  bring  back 
the  emperor !  You  may  cause  my  throat  to  be  cut  if  you  like. 
We  are  aione  here — you  don't  belong  to  the  police;  long  live 
the  emperor !  say  I. 

JUSTINE 

For  mercy's  sake,  hold  your  tongue,  you  old  fool ! — If  any 
one  heard  you,  you  would  get  us  all  arrested. 

ANTOINE 

I  am  not  afraid  of  that,  thank  God !  The  answers  I  made 
to  the  magistrate  were  non-committal;  I  never  compromised 
M.  Jules,  like  the  traitors  who  informed  against  him. 

JUSTINE 

Mme.  du  Brocard  with  all  her  immense  savings  ought  to 
be  able  to  buy  him  off. 

ANTOINE 

Oh,  nonsense !  Since  the  escape  of  Lavalette  such  a  thing 
is  impossible !  They  have  become  extremely  particular  at 
the  gates  of  the  prison,  and  they  were  never  particularly 
accommodating.  M.  Jules  will  have  to  take  his  dose  you  see ; 
he  will  be  a  martyr.  I  shall  go  and  see  him  executed.  (Some 
one  rings.  Exit  Antoine.) 

JUSTINE 

We  will  go  and  see  him!  When  one  has  known  a  con- 
demned man  I  don't  see  how  they  can  have  the  heart  to — 
As  for  me  I  shall  go  to  the  Court  of  Assizes.  I  feel,  poor 
boy,  I  owe  him  that! 


350  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

SCENE  SECOND. 
DUPBE,  ANTOINE  AND  JUSTINE. 

ANTOINE  (aside,  as  he  ushers  in  Dupre) 

Ah !  The  lawyer.  (Aloud)  Justine,  go  and  tell  madame 
that  Monsieur  Dupre  is  waiting.  (Aside)  The  lawyer  is  a 
hard  nut  to  crack,  I'm  thinking.  (Aloud)  Sir,  is  there  any 
hope  of  saving  our  poor  M.  Jules? 

DUPRE 
I  perceive  that  you  are  very  fond  of  your  young  master  ? 

ANTOINE 
Naturally  enough! 

DUPRE 
What  would  you  do  to  save  h'im  ? 

ANTOINE 
Anything,  sir! 

DUPRE 
That  means  nothing. 

ANTOINE 
Nothing? — I  will  give  whatever  evidence  you  like. 

DUPRE 

If  you  are  caught  in  contradicting  yourself  and  convicted 
of  perjury,  do  you  know  what  you  run  the  risk  of  ? 

ANTOINE 
No,  sir. 

DUPRE 
The  galleys. 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  351 

ANTOINE 
That  is  rather  severe,  sir. 

DUPRE 

You  would  prefer  to  serve  him    without    compromising 
yourself. 

ANTOINE 
Is  there  any  other  way? 

DUPRE 
No. 

ANTOINE 
Well!     I'll  run  the  risk  of  the  galleys. 

DUPRE  (aside) 
What  devotion  is  here ! 

ANTOINE 
My  master  would  be  sure  to  settle  a  pension  on  me. 

JUSTINE 
Here  is  madame. 


SCENE  THIRD. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  MADAME  EOUSSEAU. 

MME.  EOUSSEAU   (to  Dupre) 

Ah!  monsieur,  we  have  been  impatiently  expecting  this 
visit.  (To  Antoine)  Antoine!  Quick,  inform  my  husband. 
(To  Dupre)  Sir,  I  trust  in  your  efforts,  alone. 

DUPRE 

You  may  be  sure,  madame,  that  I  shall  employ  every 
energy — 


352  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

MME.  EOUSSEAU 

Oh !  Thank  you !  But  of  course  Jules  is  not  guilty.  To 
think  of  him  as  a  conspirator!  Poor  child,  how  could  any 
one  suspect  him,  who  trembles  before  me  at  the  slightest 
reproach — me,  his  mother!  Ah,  monsieur,  promise  that  you 
will  restore  him  to  me ! 

EOUSSEAU  (entering  the  room.    To  Antoine) 
Yes,  carry  the  letter  to  General  de  Verby.    I  shall  wait  for 
him  here.     (To  Dupre)     I  am  glad  to  see  you,  my  dear  M. 
Dupre — 

DUPRE 

The  battle  will  doubtless  begin  to-morrow ;  to-day  prepara- 
tions are  being  made,  and  the  indictment  drawn. 

EOUSSEAU 
Has  my  poor  Jules  made  any  admissions? 

DUPRE 

He  has  denied  everything,  and  has  played  to  perfection  the 
part  of  an  innocent  man;  but  we  are  not  able  to  oppose  any 
testimony  to  that  which  is  being  brought  against  him. 

EOUSSEAU 

Ah !  monsieur,  save  my  son,  and  the  half  of  my  fortune 
shall  be  yours ! 

DUPRE 

If  I  had  every  half  of  a  fortune  that  has  been  promised 
to  me,  I  should  be  too  rich  for  anything. 

EOUSSEAU 
Do  you  question  the  extent  of  my  gratitude? 

DUPRE 
We  will  wait  till  the  result  of  the  trial  is  known,  sir. 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  35, 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 
Take  pity  on  a  poor  mother  1 

DUPRE 

Madame,  I  swear  to  you  nothing  so  much  excites  my  curios- 
ity and  my  sympathy,  as  a  genuine  sentiment.  And  at  Paris 
sincerity  is  so  rare  that  I  cannot  be  indifferent  to  the  grief 
of  a  family  threatened  with  the  loss  of  an  only  son.  You 
may  therefore  rely  upon  me. 

ROUSSEAU 

Ah!  monsieur! 


SCENE  FOURTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  GENERAL  DE  VERBY  AND  MADAME  DU 

BROCARD. 

MME.  DU  BROCARD  (showing  in  De  Verby) 
Come  in,  my  dear  general. 

DE  VERBY  (bowing  to  Rousseau) 
Monsieur — I  simply  came  to  learn — 

ROUSSEAU  (presenting  Dupre  to  De  Verby) 
General,  M.  Dupre.     (Dupre  and  De  Verby  exchange  bows.) 

DUPRE  (aside.    While  De  Verby  talks  with  Rousseau) 
He  is  general  of  the  antechamber,  holding  the  place  merely 
through  the  influence  of  his  brother,  the  lord  chamberlain; 
he  doesn't  seem  to  me  to  have  come  here  without  some  object. 

DE  VERBY  (to  Dupre) 

I  understand,  sir,  that  you  are  engaged  for  the  defence  of 
M.  Jules  Rousseau  in  this  deplorable  affair — 


354  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

DUPRE 

Yes,  sir,  it  is  a  deplorable  affair,  for  the  real  culprits  are 
not  in  prison;  thus  it  is  that  justice  rages  fiercely  against 
the  rank  and  file,  but  the  chiefs  are  always  passed  by.  You 
are  General  Vicomte  de  Verby,  I  presume? 

DE  VERBY 

Simple  General  Verby — I  do  not  take  the  title — my  opin- 
ions of  course. — Doubtless  you  are  acquainted  with  the  evi- 
dence in  this  case? 

DUPRE 

I  have  been  in  communication  with  the  accused  only  for  the 
last  three  days. 

DE  VERBY 
And  what  do  you  think  of  the  affair  ? 

ALL 
Yes,  tell  us. 

DUPRE 

According  to  my  experience  of  the  law  courts,  I  believe  it 
possible  to  obtain  important  revelations  by  offering  commuta- 
tion of  sentence  to  the  condemned. 

DE  VERBY 
The  accused  are  all  men  of  honor. 

ROUSSEAU 
But— 

DUPRE 

Characters  sometime  change  at  the  prospect  of  the  scaffold, 
especially  when  there  is  much  at  stake. 

DE  VERBY  (aside) 

A  conspiracy  ought  not  to  be  entered  upon  excepting  with 
penniless  accomplices. 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  355 

DUPRE 
I  shall  induce  my  client  to  tell  everything. 

EODSSEAU 

Of  course. 

MME.  DU  BEOCARD 
Certainly. 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 
He  ought  to  do  so. 

DE  VERBY  (anxiously) 
1  presume  there  is  no  other  way  of  escape  for  him  ? 

DUPRE 

None  whatever ;  it  can  be  proved  that  he  was  of  the  number 
of  those  who  had  begun  to  put  in  execution  the  plot. 

DE  VERBY 
I  would  rather  loose  my  head  than  my  honor. 

DUPRE 
I  should  consider  which  of  the  two  was  worth  more. 

DE  VERBY 
You  have  your  views  in  the  matter. 

ROUSSEAU 
Those  are  mine. 

DUPRE 

And  they  are  the  opinions  of  the  majority.  I  have  seen 
many  things  done  by  men  to  escape  the  scaffold.  There  are 
people  who  push  others  to  the  front,  who  risk  nothing,  and 
yet  reap  all  the  fruits  of  success.  Have  such  men  anjr  honor  ? 
Can  one  feel  any  obligation  towards  them? 


356  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

DE  VERBY 
No,  they  are  contemptible  wretches. 

DUPRE  (aside) 

He  has  well  said  it.    This  is  the  fellow  who  has  ruined  poor 
Jules !    I  must  keep  my  eye  on  him. 


SCENE  FIFTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  ANTOINE  AND  JULES  (the  latter  led  in 
by  police  agents). 

ANTOINE 

Sir,  a  carriage  stopped  at  the  door.     Several  men  got  out. 
M.  Jules  is  with  them ;  they  are  bringing  him  in. 

M.  AND  MME.  ROUSSEAU 
My  son ! 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
My  nephew ! 

DUPRE 

Yes,  I  see  what  it  is — doubtless  a  search-warrant.     They 
wish  to  look  over  his  papers. 

ANTOINE 

Here  he  is.   (Jules  appears  in  the  centre,  followed  by  the 
police  and  a  magistrate;  he  rushes  up  to  his  mother) 

JULES 

0  mother!  my  good  mother!     (He  embraces  his  mother.) 
Ah  !  I  sec  you  once  more !   (To  Mme.  du  Brocard)  Dear  aunt ! 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 
My  poor  child  !    Come !   come — close  to  me ;   they  will  not 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  357 

dare —    (To  the  police,  who  approach  her)    Leave  him,  leave 
him  here ! 

KOUSSEAU  (rushing  towards  the  police) 
Be  kind  enough — 

DUPRE  (to  the  magistrate) 
Monsieur ! 

JULES 

My  dear  mother,  calm  yourself !  I  shall  soon  he  free ;  yes, 
be  quite  sure  of  that,  and  we  will  not  part  again. 

ANTOINE  (to  Rousseau) 
Sir,  they  wish  to  visit  M.  Jules's  room. 

EOUSSEAU  (to  the  magistrate) 

In  a  moment,  monsieur.  I  will  go  with  you  myself.  (To 
Dupre,  pointing  to  Jules)  Do  not  leave  him !  (He  goes  out 
conducting  the  magistrate,  who  makes  a  sign  to  the  police  to 
keep  guard  on  Jules.) 

JULES  (seizing  the  hand  of  De  Verby) 

Ah,  general !  ( To  Dupre)  And  how  good  and  generous  of 
you,  M.  Dupre,  to  come  here  and  comfort  my  mother.  (In  a 
low  voice)  Ah!  conceal  from  her  my  danger.  (Aloud,  look- 
ing at  his  mother)  Tell  her  the  truth.  Tell  her  that  she  has 
nothing  to  fear. 

DUPRE 

I  will  tell  her  that  it  is  in  her  power  to  save  you. 

MME.  EOUSSEAD 
In  my  power  ? 

MME.  DU  BROCAED 
How  can  that  be  ? 


358  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

DUPRE  (to  Mme.  Rousseau) 

By  imploring  him  to  disclose  the  names  of  those  "who  have 
led  him  on. 

DE  VERBY  (to  Dupre) 
Monsieur ! 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 

Yes,  and  you  ought  to  do  it.  I,  your  mother,  demand  it 
of  you. 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 

Oh,  certainly !  My  nephew  shall  tell  everything.  He  has 
been  led  on  hy  people  who  now  abandon  him  to  his  fate,  and 
he  in  his  turn  ought — 

DE  VERBY  (in  a  low  voice  to  Dupre) 
What,  sir!  would  you  advise  your  client  to  betray — ? 

DUPRE  (quickly) 
Whom? 

DE  VERBY  (in  a  troubled  voice) 

But — can't  we  find  some  other  method?  M.  Jules  knows 
what  a  man  of  high  spirit  owes  to  himself. 

DUPRE  (aside) 
He  is  the  man — I  felt  sure  of  it ! 

JULES  (to  his  mother  and  aunt) 

Never,  though  I  should  die  for  it — never  will  I  com- 
promise any  one  else.  (De  Verby  shows  his  pleasure  at  this 
declaration.) 

MME,  EOUSSEAU 

Ah!  my  God!  (Looking  at  the  police.)  And  there  is  no 
chance  of  our  helping  him  to  escape  here  I 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  359 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
No !  that  is  out  of  the  question. 

ANTOINE  (coming  into  the  room) 
M.  Jules,  they  are  asking  for  you. 

JULES 
I  am  coming ! 

MME.  EOUSSEAU 

Ah !    I  cannot  let  you  go !  .  (She  turns  to  the  police  with  a 
supplicating  look.) 

MME.  DU  BROCARD  (to  Dupre,  who  scrutinizes  De  Verby) 
M.  Dupre,  I  have  thought  that  it  would  be  a  good  thing — 

DUPRE  (interrupting  her) 

Later,  madame,  later.     (He  leads  her  to  Jules,  who  goes 
out  with  his  mother,  followed  by  the  agents.) 


SCENE  SIXTH. 
DUPRE  AND  DE  VERBY. 

DE  VERBY  (aside) 

These  people  have  hit  upon  a  lawyer  who  is  rich,  without 
ambition — and  eccentric. 

DUPRE  (crossing  the  stage  and  gazing  at  De  Verby,  aside) 
Now  is  my  time  to  learn  your  secret.     (Aloud)    You  are 
very  much  interested  in  my  client,  monsieur  ? 

DE  VERBY 
Verv  much  indeed. 


S60  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

DUPRE 

1  have  yet  to  understand  what  motive  could  have  led  him, 
young,  rich  and  devoted  to  pleasure  as  he  is,  to  implicate  him- 
self in  a  conspiracy — 

DE  VERBY 
The  passion  for  glory. 

DUPRE 

Don't  talk  in  that  way  to  a  lawyer  who  for  twenty  years  has 
practiced  in  the  courts;  who  has  studied  men  and  affairs  well 
enough  to  know  that  the  finest  motives  are  only  assumed  as  a 
disguise  for  trumpery  passions,  and  has  never  yet  met  a  man 
whose  heart  was  free  from  the  calculations  of  self-interest. 

DE  VERBY 
Do  you  ever  take  up  a  case  without  charging  anything  ? 

DUPRE 
I  often  do  so ;  but  I  never  act  contrary  to  my  convictions. 

DE  VERBY 
I  understand  that  you  are  rich? 

DUPRE 

I  have  some  fortune.  Without  it,  in  the  world  as  at  present 
constituted,  I  should  be  on  the  straight  road  for  the  poorhouse. 

DE  VERBY 

It  is  then  from  conviction,  I  suppose,  that  you  have  under- 
taken the  defence  of  young  Eousseau. 

DUPRE 

Certainly.  I  believe  him  to  be  the  dupe  of  others  in  a 
higher  station,  and  I  like  those  who  allow  themselves  to  be 
duped  from  generous  motives  and  not  from  self-interest;  for 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  361 

in  these  times  the  dupe  is  often  as  greedy  after  gain  as  the 
man  who  exploits  him. 

DE  VEEBY 
You  belong,  I  perceive,  to  the  sect  of  misanthropes. 

DUPBE 

I  do  not  care  enough  for  mankind  to  hate  them,  for  I  have 
never  yet  met  any  one  I  could  love.  I  am  contented  with  study- 
ing my  fellow-men ;  for  I  see  that  they  are  all  engaged  in  play- 
ing each,  with  more  or  less  success,  his  own  little  comedy.  I 
have  no  illusion  about  anything,  it  is  true,  but  I  smile  at  it 
all  like  a  spectator  who  sits  in  a  theatre  to  be  amused.  One 
thing  I  never  do;  I  hiss  nothing;  for  I  have  not  sufficient 
feeling  about  things  for  that. 

DE  VERBY  (aside) 

How  is  it  possible  to  influence  such  a  man?  (Aloud) 
Nevertheless,  monsieur,  you  must  sometimes  need  the  services 
of  others? 

DUPEE 
Never ! 

DE  VEBBY 
But  you  are  sometimes  sick? 

DUPBE 

Then  I  like  to  be  alone.  Moreover,  at  Paris,  anything  can 
be  bought,  even  attendance  on  the  sick;  believe  me  I  live 
because  it  is  my  duty  to  do  so.  I  have  tested  everything — 
charity,  friendship,  unselfish  devotion.  Those  who  have 
received  benefits  have  disgusted  me  with  the  doing  of  kind- 
nesses. Certain  philanthropists  have  made  me  feel  a  loath- 
ing for  charity.  And  of  all  humbugs  that  of  sentiment  is  the 
most  hateful. 

DE  VERBY 

And  what  of  patriotism,  monsieur  ? 


362  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

DUPRE 

That  is  a  very  trifling  matter,  since  the  cry  of  humanity 
has  been  raised. 

DE  VERBY  (somewhat  discouraged) 
And  so  you  take  Jules  Eousseau  for  a  young  enthusiast  ? 

DUPRE 

No,  sir,  nothing  of  the  sort.  He  presents  a  problem  which 
I  have  to  solve,  and  with  your  assistance  I  shall  reach  the  solu- 
tion. (De  Verby  changes  countenance.)  Come,  let  us  speak 
candidly.  I  believe  that  you  know  something  about  all  this. 

DE  VERBI 
What  do  you  mean,  sir  ? 

DUPRE 
You  can  save  this  young  man. 

DE  VERBY 
I?  What  can  I  do? 

DUPRE 
You  can  give  testimony  which  Antoine  will  corroborate — 

DE  VERBY 
I  have  reasons  for  not  appearing  as  a  witness. 

DUPRE 
Just  so.    You  are  one  of  the  conspirators ! 

DE  VERBY 
Monsieur ! 

DUPRE 
It  is  you  who  have  led  on  this  poor  boy. 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  363 

DE  VERBY 
Monsieur,  this  language — ! 

DUPRE 

Don't  attempt  to  deceive  me,  but  tell  me  how  you  managed 
to  gain  this  bad  influence  over  him  ?  He  is  rich,  he  is  in  need 
of  nothing. 

DE  VERBY 
Listen ! — If  you  say  another  word — 

DUPRE 
Oh!  my  life  is  of  no  consideration  with  me! 

DE  VERBY 

Sir,  you  know  very  well  that  Jules  will  get  off ;  and  that  if 
he  does  not  behave  properly,  he  will  lose,  through  your  fault, 
his  chance  of  marriage  with  my  niece,  and  thus  the  succession 
to  the  title  of  my  brother,  the  Lord  Chamberlain. 

DUPRE 

Ah,  that's  what  he  was  after,  then !  He's  like  all  the  rest 
of  the  schemers.  Now  consider,  sir,  what  I  am  going  to  pro- 
pose to  you.  You  have  powerful  friends,  and  it  is  your  duty— 

DE  VERBY 
My  duty !  I  do  not  understand  you,  sir. 

DUPRE 

You  have  been  able  to  effect  his  ruin,  and  can  you  not  bring 
about  his  release?  (Aside)  I  have  him  there. 

DE  VERBY 
I  shall  give  my  best  consideration  to  the  matter. 


364  PAMELA  GIKAUD 

DUPRE 

Don't  consider  for  a  moment  that  you  can  escape  me. 

DE  VERBY 

A  general  who  fears  no  danger  can  have  no  fear  of  a  law- 
yer— 

DUPRE 
,     As  you  will!     (Exit  De  Verby,  who  jostles  against  Joseph.) 


'SCENE  SEVENTH. 
DUPRE  AND  JOSEPH  BINET. 

JOSEPH 

I  heard  only  yesterday,  monsieur,  that  you  were  engaged 
for  the  defence  of  M.  Jules  Eousseau;  I  have  been  to  your 
place,  and  have  waited  for  you  until  I  could  wait  no  later. 
This  morning  I  found  that  you  had  left  your  home,  and  as  I 
am  working  for  this  house,  a  happy  inspiration  sent  me  here. 
I  thought  you  would  be  coming  here,  and  I  waited  for  you — 

DUPRE 
What  do  you  want  with  me  ? 

JOSEPH 
I  am  Joseph  Binet. 

DUPRE 
Well,  proceed. 

JOSEPH 

Let  me  say  without  offence,  sir,  that  I  have  fourteen  hun- 
dred francs  of  my  own — quite  my  own ! — earned  sou  by  sou. 
I  am  a  journeyman  upholsterer,  and  my  uncle,  Du  Mouchel,  a 
retired  wine  merchant,  has  plenty  of  the  metal. 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  365 

DUPRE 

Speak  out  openly !  What  is  the  meaning  of  this  mysterious 
preamble  ? 

JOSEPH 

Fourteen  hundred  francs  is  of  course  a  mere  trifle,  and  they 
say  that  lawyers  have  to  be  well  paid,  and  that  it  is  because 
they  are  well  paid  that  there  are  so  many  of  them.  I  should 
have  done  better  if  I  had  been  a  lawyer — then  she  would  have 
married  me! 

DUPRE 

Are  you  crazy? 

JOSEPH 

Not  at  all.  I  have  here  my  fourteen  hundred  francs ;  take 
them,  sir — no  humbug !  They  are  yours. 

DUPRE 
And  on  what  condition? 

JOSEPH 

You  must  save  M.  Jules — I  mean,  of  course,  from  death — 
and  you  must  have  him  transported.  I  don't  want  him  to  be 
put  to  death ;  but  he  must  go  abroad.  He  is  rich,  and  he  will 
enjoy  himself.  But  save  his  life.  Procure  a  sentence  of  sim- 
ple transportation,  say  for  fifteen  years,  and  my  fourteen  hun- 
dred francs  are  yours.  I  will  give  them  to  you  gladly,  and  I 
will  moreover  make  you  an  office  chair  below  the  market  price. 
There  now ! 

DUPRE 

What  is  your  object  in  speaking  to  me  in  this  way? 

JOSEPH 

My  object  ?  I  want  to  marry  Pamela.  I  want  to  have  my 
little  Pamela. 

DUPRE 
Pamela  ? 


366  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

JOSEPH 
Pamela  Giraud. 

DUPBE 
What  connection  has  Pamela  Giraud  with  Jules  Rousseau? 

JOSEPH 

Well  I  never !  Why !  I  thought  that  advocates  were  paid 
for  learning  and  knowing  everything.  But  you  don't  seem 
to  know  anything,  sir.  I  am  not  surprised  that  there  are  those 
who  say  advocates  are  know-nothings.  But  I  should  like  to 
have  hack  my  fourteen  hundred  francs.  Pamela  is  accused, 
that  is  to  say,  she  accuses  me  of  having  hetrayed  his  head  to 
the  executioner,  and  you  will  understand  that  if  after  all  he 
escapes,  and  is  transported,  I  can  marry,  can  wed  Pamela; 
and  as  the  transported  man  will  not  he  in  France,  I  need  fear 
no  disturbance  in  my  home.  Get  him  fifteen  years;  that  is 
nothing;  fifteen  years  for  traveling  and  I  shall  have  time  to 
see  my  children  grown  up,  and  my  wife  old  enough — you 
understand — 

DUPEE    (aside) 

He  is  candid,  at  any  rate — Those  who  make  their  calcula- 
tions aloud  and  in  such  evident  excitement  are  not  the  worst 
of  people. 

JOSEPH 

I  say !  Do  you  know  the  proverb — "A  lawyer  who  talks 
to  himself  is  like  a  pastry  cook  who  eats  his  own  wares/' — eh, 
sir?  • 

DUPEE 

I  understand  you  to  say  that  Pamela  is  in  love  with  M. 
Jules? 

JOSEPH 
Ah !  I  see,  you  understand  matters. 

DUPBE 
They  used  frequently  to  meet  I  suppose? 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  367 

JOSEPH 

Far  too  frequently !  Oh !  if  I  had  only  known  it,  I  would 
soon  have  put  a  stop  to  it ! 

DUPRE 
Is  she  pretty? 

JOSEPH 

Who  ? — Pamela  ? — My  eye  !  My  Pamela  !  She  is  as  pretty 
as  the  Apollo  Belvidere ! 

DUPRE 

Keep  your  fourteen  hundred  francs,  my  friend,  and  if  you 
have  courage,  you  and  your  Pamela,  you  will  be  able  to  help 
me  in  effecting  his  deliverance;  for  the  question  is  absolutely 
whether  we  must  let  him  go  to  the  scaffold,  or  save  him 
from  it. 

JOSEPH 

I  beg  you,  sir,  do  not  think  of  saying  one  word  to  Pamela ; 
she  is  in  despair. 

DUPRE 

Nevertheless  you  must  bring  it  about  that  I  see  her  this 
morning. 

JOSEPH 
I  will  send  word  to  her  through  her  parents. 

DUPRE 

Ah!  she  has  a  father  and  mother  living  then?  (Aside) 
This  will  cost  a  lot  of  money.  (Aloud)  Who  are  they? 

JOSEPH 
They  are  respectable  porters. 

DUPRE 
That  is  good. 


368  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

JOSEPH 
Old  Giraud  is  a  ruined  tailor. 

DUPBE 

Very  well,  go  and  inform  them  of  my  intended  visit,  and 
above  all  things  preserve  the  utmost  secrecy,  or  M.  Jules 
will  be  sacrificed. 

JOSEPH 
I  shall  be  dumb. 

DUPRE 
And  let  it  be  thought  that  we  have  never  met. 

JOSEPH 
We  have  never  seen  each  other. 

DUPEE 
Now  go. 

JOSEPH 
I  am  going.  (He  mistakes  the  door.) 

DUPRE 
This  is  the  way. 

JOSEPH 

This  is  the  way,  great  advocate — but  let  me  give  you  a  bit 
of  advice — a  slight  taste  of  transportation  will  not  do  him 
any  harm;  in  fact,  it  will  teach  him  to  leave  the  government 
in  peace.  (Exit.) 


SCENE  EIGHTH. 

ROUSSEAU,  MADAME  ROUSSEAU,  MADAME  DU  BROCARD  (at- 
tended by  Justine)   AND  DUPRE. 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 
Poor  child!     What  courage  he  shows! 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  369 

DUPRE 

I  hope  to  save  him  for  you,  madame ;  but  it  cannot  be  done 
without  making  great  sacrifices. 

EOUSSEAU 
Sir,  the  half  of  our  fortune  is  at  your  disposal. 

MME.  DU  BEOCARD 
And  the  half  of  mine. 

DUPRE 

It  is  always  the  half  of  some  fortune  or  other.  I  am  going 
to  try  to  do  my  duty — afterwards,  you  must  do  yours;  we 
shall  have  to  make  great  efforts.  You,  madame,  must  rouse 
yourself,  for  I  have  great  hopes. 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 
Ah!  sir,  what  can  you  mean? 

DUPRE 

A  little  time  ago,  your  son  was  a  ruined  man ;  at  the  present 
moment,  I  believe  he  can  be  saved. 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 
What  must  we  do  ? 

MME.  DU  BROCAKD 
What  do  you  ask? 

ROUSSEAU 
You  may  be  sure  we  will  do  as  you  require. 

DUPRE 

I  feel  certain  you  will.  This  is  my  plan  which  will  un- 
doubtedly succeed  with  the  jury.  Your  son  had  an  intrigue 
with  a  certain  working-girl,  Pamela  Giraud,  the  daughter  of 
a  porter. 


370  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

MME.  DU  BEOCARD 
What  low  people ! 

DUPEE 

Yet  you  will  have  to  humble  yourselves  to  them.  Your 
son  was  always  with  this  young  girl,  and  in  this  point  lies 
the  sole  hope  of  his  deliverance.  The  very  evening  on  which 
the  public  prosecutor  avers  that  he  attended  a  meeting  of  the 
conspirators,  he  was  possibly  visiting  her.  If  this  is  a  fact, 
if  she  declares  that  he  remained  with  her  that  night,  if  her 
father  and  her  mother,  if  the  rival  of  Jules  confirm  the  testi- 
mony— we  shall  then  have  ground  for  hope.  When  the 
choice  has  to  be  made  between  a  sentence  of  guilty  and  an 
alibi,  the  jury  prefers  the  alibi. 

MME.  EOUSSEAU   (aside) 
Ah !  sir,  you  bring  back  life  to  me. 

.  KOUSSEAU 
Sir,  we  owe  you  a  debt  of  eternal  gratitude. 

DUPRE  (looking  at  them) 

What  sum  of  money  must  I  offer  to  the  daughter,  to  the 
father  and  to  the  mother? 

MME.  DU  BEOCARD 
Are  they  poor? 

DUPRE 
They  are,  but  the  matter  concerns  their  honor. 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
Oh,  she  is  only  a  working-girl ! 

DUPEE  (ironically) 
It  ought  to  be  done  very  cheaply. 


PAMEIA  GIRAUD  371 

KOUSSEAU 

What  do  you  think? 

DUPRE 
I  think  that  you  are  bargaining  for  the  life  of  your  son. 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
Well,  M.  Dupre,  I  suppose  you  may  go  as  high  as — 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 
As  high  as — 

DUPRE 
As  high  as — 

ROUSSEAU 

Upon  my  word,  I  don't  understand  why  you  hesitate — and 
you  must  offer,  sir,  whatever  sum  you  consider  suitable. 

DUPRE 

Just  so,  you  leave  it  to  my  discretion.  But  what  compen- 
sation do  you  offer  her  if  she  restores  your  son  to  you  at  the 
sacrifice  of  her  honor?  For  possibly  he  has  made  love  to  her. 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 

He  shall  marry  her.  I  come  from  the  people  myself  and 
I  am  no  marchioness. 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 

What  do  you  mean  by  that?  You  are  forgetting  Mile,  de 
Verby. 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 

Sister,  my  son's  life  must  be  saved. 

DUPRE   (aside) 

Here  we  have  the  beginning  of  a  comedy  and  the  last  which 
I  wish  to  see;  but  I  must  keep  them  to  their  word.  (Aloud) 


372  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

Perhaps  it  would  be  well  if  you  secretly  paid  a  visit  to  the 
young  girl. 

MME.  KOUSSEAU 

Oh,  yes,  I  should  like  to  go  to  see  her — to  implore  her — (she 
rings.)  Justine!  Antoine!  quick!  order  the  carriage!  at 
once — 

ANTOINE 
Yes,  madame. 

MME.  KOUSSEAU 
Sister,  will  you  go  with  me  ? — Ah,  Jules,  my  poor  son ! 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
They  are  bringing  him  back. 


SCENE  NINTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  JULES  (brought  in  by  the  police),  AND 
LATER  DE  VERBY. 

JULES  (kissing  his  mother) 

0  mother ! — I  will  not  say  good-bye ;  I  shall  soon  be  back, 
very  soon.     (Rousseau  and  Mme.  du  Brocard  embrace  Jules.) 

DE  VERBY  (going  up  to  Dupre) 

1  will  do,  monsieur,  what  you  have  asked  of  me.  One  of  my 
friends,  M.  Adolph  Durand,  who  facilitated  the  flight  of  our 
dear  Jules,  will  testify  that  his  friend  was  altogether  taken 
up  with  a  grisette,  whom  he  loved  passionately,  and  with  whom 
he  was  taking  measures  to  elope. 

DUPRE 

That  is  enough ;   success  now  depends  upon  the  way  we  set 
about  things. 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  373 

THE  MAGISTRATE  (to  Jules) 
We  must  be  going,  monsieur. 

JULES 

I  will  follow  you.  Be  of  good  courage,  mother!  (He  bids 
farewell  to  Rousseau  and  Dupre;  De  Verby  signs  to  him  to 
be  cautious.) 

MME.  ROUSSEAU  (to  Jules,  as  he  is  being  led  away) 

Jules !  Jules !  Do  not  give  up  hope — we  are  going  to  save 
you !  (The  police  lead  Jules  away.) 

Curtain  to  the  Second  Act. 


374  PAMELA  G1RAUD 


ACT  III. 

SCENE  FIRST. 
(The  stage  represents  the  room  of  Pamela.) 

PAMELA,  GIBAUD  AND  MADAME  GIRAUD. 

(Pamela  is  standing  near  her  mother,  who  is  knitting;  Giraud 

is  at  work  at  a  table  on  the  left.) 

MME.  GTRAUD 

The  fact  of  the  matter  is  this,  my  poor  daughter :  I  do  not 
mean  to  reproach  you,  but  you  are  the  cause  of  all  our  trouble. 

GIRAUD 

No  doubt  about  it !  We  came  to  Paris  because  in  the  coun- 
try tailoring  is  no  sort  of  a  business,  and  we  had  some  ambi- 
tion for  you,  our  Pamela,  such  a  sweet,  pretty  little  thing  as 
you  were.  We  said  to  each  other :  "We  will  go  into  service ; 
I  will  work  at  my  trade ;  we  will  give  a  good  position  to  our 
child ;  and  as  she  will  be  good,  industrious  and  pretty,  we  can 
take  care  of  our  own  old  age  by  marrying  her  well." 

PAMELA 
0  father! 

MME.  GIRAUD 
Half  of  our  plans  were  already  carried  out. 

GIRAUD 
Yes,  certainly.     We  had  a  good  position;  you  made  as 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  375 

fine  flowers  as  any  gardener  could  grow;   and  Joseph  Binet, 
your  neighbor,  was  to  be  the  husband  of  our  choice. 

MME.  GIRAUD 

Instead  of  all  this,  the  scandal  which  has  arisen  in  the 
house  has  caused  the  landlord  to  dismiss  us;  the  talk  of  the 
neighborhood  was  incessant,  for  the  young  man  was  arrested 
in  your  room. 

PAMELA 
And  yet  I  have  been  guilty  of  nothing ! 

GIRAUD 

Come,  now,  we  know  that  well  enough !  Do  you  think  if  it 
were  otherwise  that  we  would  stay  near  you?  And  that  I 
would  embrace  you  ?  After  all,  Pamela,  there  is  nothing  like 
a  father  and  a  mother !  And  when  the  whole  world  is  against 
her,  if  a  girl  can  look  into  her  parents'  face  without  a  blush 
it  is  enough. 


SCENE  SECOND. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  JOSEPH  BINET. 

MME.  GIRAUD 
Well,  well !    Here  is  Joseph  Binet. 

PAMELA 

M.  Binet,  what  are  you  doing  here?    But  for  your  want  of 
common-sense,  M.  Jules  would  not  have  been  found  here. 

JOSEPH 
I  am  come  to  tell  you  about  him. 

PAMELA 
What !  really  ?    Well,  let  us  hear,  Joseph. 


376  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

JOSEPH 

Ah !  you  won't  send  me  away  now,  will  you  ?  I  have  seen 
his  lawyer,  and  I  have  offered  him  all  that  I  possess  if  he 
would  get  him  off! 

PAMELA 
Do  you  mean  it  ? 

JOSEPH 
Yes.    Would  you  be  satisfied  if  he  was  merely  transported  ? 

PAMELA 

Ah !  you  are  a  good  fellow,  Joseph,  and  I  see  that  you 
love  me !  Let  us  be  friends ! 

JOSEPH  (aside) 

I  have  good  hopes  that  we  shall  be.  (A  knock  at  the  door 
is  heard.) 


SCENE  THIRD. 
THE  PRECEDING,  M.  DE  VERBY  AND  MADAME  DU  BROCARD. 

MME.  GTRAUD  (opening  the  door) 
There  are  some  people  here ! 

GIRADD 
A  lady  and  a  gentleman. 

JOSEPH 

What  did  you  say?     (Pamela  rises  from  her  seat  and  takes 
a  step  toward  M.  de  Verby,  who  bows  to  her.) 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
Is  this  Mile.  Pamela  Giraud? 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  377 

PAMELA 
It  is,  madame. 

DE  VERBY 

Forgive  us,  mademoiselle,  for  presenting  ourselves  without 
previous  announcement — 

PAMELA 

There  is  no  harm  done.     May  I  know  the  object  of  this 
visit? 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
And  you,  good  people,  are  her  father  and  mother? 

MME.  GIRAUD 
Yes,  madame. 

JOSEPH 
She  calls  them  good  people — she  must  be  one  of  the  swells. 

PAMELA 

Will  you  please  be   seated?     (Mme.   Giraud  offers  them 
seats.) 

JOSEPH  (to  Giraud) 

My  eye !    The  gentleman  has  on  the  ribbon  of  the  Legion 
of  Honor !    He  belongs  to  high  society. 

GIRAUD  (looking  at  De  Verby) 
By  my  faith,  that's  true ! 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
I  am  the  aunt  of  M.  Jules  Eousseau. 

PAMELA 
You,  madame?    Then  this  gentleman  must  be  his  father? 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
He  is  merely  a  friend  of  the  family.    We  are  come,  made- 


378  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

moiselle,  to  ask  a  favor  of  you.     (Looking  at  Binet  with  em- 
barrassment.)   Your  brother? 

GIRAUD 
No,  madame,  just  a  neighbor  of  ours. 

MME.  DU  BROCAED  (to  Pamela) 
Send  him  away. 

JOSEPH  (aside) 

Send  him  away,  indeed !     I'd  like  to  know  what  right  she 
has — (Pamela  makes  a  sign  to  Joseph.) 

GIRAUD  (to  Joseph) 

My  friend,  you  had  better  leave  us.    It  seems  that  this  is  a 
private  matter. 

JOSEPH 
Very  well.     (Exit.) 


SCENE  FOURTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  EXCEPTING  BINET. 

MME.  DU  BROCARD  (to  Pamela) 

You  are  acquainted  with  my  nephew.    I  do  not  intend  to 
reproach  you.    Your  parents  alone  have  the  right. 

MME.  GIRAUD 
But,  thank  God,  they  have  no  reason. 

GIRAUD 

It  is  your  tiephew  who  has  caused  all  this  talk  abouJ  her, 
but  she  is  blameless! 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  379 

DE  VERBY  (interrupting  him) 
But  suppose  that  we  wish  her  to  be  guilty  ? 

PAMELA 
What  do  you  mean,  sir  ? 

GIRAUD  AND  MME.  GIRAUD 
To  think  of  it ! 

MME.  DU  BROCARD  (seizing  De  Verby's  meaning) 
Yes,  suppose,  to  save  the  life  of  a  poor  young  man — 

DE  VERBY 

It  were  necessary  to  declare  that  M.  Jules  Eousseau  spent 
nearly  the  whole  night  of  the  twenty-fourth  of  August  here 
with  you  ? 

PAMELA 
Ah!  sir! 

DE  VERBY  (to  Giraud  and  his  wife) 

Yes,  suppose  it  were  necessary  to  testify  against  your  daugh- 
ter, by  alleging  this? 

MME.  GIRAUD 
I  would  never  say  such  a  thing. 

GIRAUD 

What !  Insult  my  child !  Sir,  I  have  had  all  possible 
troubles.  I  was  once  a  tailor,  now  I  am  reduced  to  nothing. 
I  am  a  porter !  But  I  have  remained  a  father.  My  daughter 
is  our  sole  treasure,  the  glory  of  our  old  age,  and  you  ask  us 
to  dishonor  her! 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
Pray  listen  to  me,  sir. 


380  PAMELA  G1RAUD 

GlRAUD 

No,  madame,  I  will  listen  to  nothing.  My  daughter  is  the 
hope  of  my  gray  hairs. 

PAMELA 
Calm  yourself,  father,  I  implore  you. 

MME.  GIRAUD 
Keep  quiet,  Giraud !    Do  let  this  lady  and  gentleman  speak ! 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
A  family  in  deep  affliction  implores  you  to  save  them. 

PAMELA  (aside) 
Poor  Jules! 

DE  VERBY  (in  a  low  voice  to  Pamela) 
His  fate  is  in  your  hands. 

MME.  GIRAUD 

We  are  respectable  people  and  know  what  it  is  for  parents, 
for  a  mother,  to  be  in  despair.  But  what  you  ask  is  out  of  the 
question.  (Pamela  puts  a  handkerchief  to  her  eyes.) 

GIRAUD 
We  must  stop  this !    You  see  the  girl  is  in  tears. 

MME.  GIRAUD 
She  has  done  nothing  but  weep  for  several  days. 

GIRAUD 

I  know  my  daughter;  she  would  be  capable  of  going  and 
making  the  declaration  they  ask,  in  spite  of  us. 


PAMELA  GiRAUD  381 

MME.  GIRAUD 

Yes, — for  you  must  see,  she  loves  him,  she  loves  your 
nephew  !  And  to  save  his  life — Well !  well !  I  would  have 
done  as  much  in  her  place. 

MME.  DU  BROCABD 
Have  compassion  on  us ! 

DE  VERBY 
Grant  this  request  of  ours — 

MME.  DU  BROCARD  (to  Pamela) 
If  it  is  true  that  you  love  Jules — 

MME.  GIRAUD  (leading  Giraud  up  to  Pamela) 

Did  you  hear  that  ?  Well !  Listen  to  me.  She  is  in  love 
with  this  youth.  It  is  quite  certain  that  he  also  is  in  love  with 
her.  If  she  should  make  a  sacrifice  like  that,  as  a  return,  he 
ought  to  marry  her. 

PAMELA  (with  vehemence) 
Never !    ( Aside)    These  people  would  not  wish  it,  not  they. 

DE  VERBY  (to  Mme.  du  Brocard) 
They  are  consulting  about  it. 

MME.  DU  BROCARD  (in  a  low  voice  to  De  Verby) 
It  will  be  absolutely  necessary  for  us  to  make  a  sacrifice. 
We  must  appeal  to  their  interest.    It  is  the  only  plan ! 

DE  VERBY 

In  venturing  to  ask  of  you  so  great  a  sacrifice,  we  are  quite 
aware  of  the  claims  that  you  will  have  on  our  gratitude.  The 
family  of  Jules,  who  might  have  blamed  you  on  account  of 


382  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

your  relations  with  him,  are,  on  the  contrary,  anxious  to  dis- 
charge the  obligations  which  bind  them  to  you. 

MME.  GIRADD 
Ah !    Did  I  not  tell  you  so  ? 

PAMELA 
Can  it  be  possible  that  Jules — 

DE  VERBY 
I  am  authorized  to  make  a  promise  to  you. 

PAMELA  (with  emotion) 
Oh! 

DE  VERBY 

Tell  me,  how  much  do  you  ask  for  the  sacrifice  required  of 
you? 

PAMELA  (in  consternation) 

What  do  you  mean  ?  How  much — I  ask — for  saving  Jules  ? 
What  do  you  take  me  for  ? 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
Ah !  mademoiselle ! 

DE  VERBY 
You  misunderstand  me. 

PAMELA 

No,  it  is  you  who  misunderstand  us !  You  are  come  here,  to 
the  house  of  poor  people,  and  you  are  quite  unaware  of  what 
you  ask  from  them.  You,  madame,  ought  to  know  that  what- 
ever be  the  rank  or  the  education  of  a  woman,  her  honor  is  her 
sole  treasure!  And  that  which  you  in  your  own  families 
guard  with  so  much  care,  with  so  much  reverence,  }rou  actually 
believe  that  people  here,  living  in  an  attic,  would  be  willing 
to  sell !  And  you  have  said  to  yourselves :  "Let  us  offer  them 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  383 

money !    We  need  just  now  the  sacrifice  of  a  working-girl's 
honor  I" 

GIRAUD 
That  is  excellent !  I  recognize  my  own  blood  there. 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 

My  dear  child,  do  not  be  offended !  Money  is  money,  after 
all. 

DE  VERBY  (addressing  Giraud) 

Undoubtedly !  And  six  thousand  francs  for  a  solid  annual 
income  as  the  price  of — a — 

PAMELA 

As  the  price  of  a  lie !  For  I  must  out  with  it.  But  thank 
God  I  haven't  yet  lost  my  self-respect !  Good-bye,  sir.  (She 
makes  a  low  bow  to  Mme.  du  Brocard,  then  goes  into  her  bed- 
chamber.) 

DE  VERBY 
What  is  to  be  done  ? 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
I  am  quite  nonplussed. 

GIRAUD 

I  quite  admit  that  an  income  of  six  thousand  francs  is  no 
trifle,  but  our  daughter  has  a  high  spirit,  you  see;  she  takes 
after  me — 

MME.  GIRAUD 
And  she  will  never  yield. 


384  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

SCENE  FIFTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  JOSEPH  BINET,  DUPEE  AND  MME  ROUS- 
SEAU. 

1  JOSEPH 

This  way,  sir.  This  way,  madame.      (Dupre  and  Mme. 

Rousseau  enter.}  These  are  the  father  and  mother  of  Pamela 
Giraud ! 

DUPRE  (to  De  Verby] 
I  am  very  sorry,  sir,  that  you  have  got  here  before  me ! 

MME.  ROUSSEAU. 

My  sister  has  doubtless  told  you,  madame,  the  sacrifice 
which  we  expect  your  daughter  to  make  for  us.  Only  an  angel 
would  make  it. 

JOSEPH 
What  sacrifice? 

MME.  GIRAUD 
It  is  no  business  of  yours. 

DE  VERBY 
We  have  just  had  an  interview  with  Mile.  Pamela — 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
She  has  refused ! 

MME.    ROUSSEAU 
Oh,  heavens! 

DUPRE 
Refused  what? 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
An  income  of  six  thousand  francs. 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  385 

DUPRE 
I  could  have  wagered  on  it.    To  think  of  offering  money  I 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
But  it  was  the  only  way — 

DUPRE 

To  spoil  everything.  (To  Mme.  Giraud)  Madame,  kindly 
tell  your  daughter  that  the  counsel  of  M.  Jules  Rousseau  is 
here  and  desires  to  see  her. 

MME.  GIRAUD 
Oh,  as  for  that  you  will  gain  nothing. 

GIRAUD 
Either  from  her  or  from  us. 

JOSEPH  ' 
But  what  is  it  they  want  ? 

GIRAUD 
Hold  your  tongue. 

MME.  DU  BROCARD  (to  Mme.  Giraud) 
Madame,  offer  her — 

DUPRE 

Now,  Mme.  du  Brocard,  I  must  beg  you — (To  Mme. 
Giraud)  It  is  in  the  name  of  the  mother  of  Jules  that  I  ask 
of  you  permission  to  see  your  daughter. 

MME.  GIRAUD 

It  will  be  of  no  use,  of  no  use  at  all,  sir !  And  to  think  that 
they  point-blank  offered  her  money  when  the  young  man  a 
little  time  before  had  spoken  of  marrying  her! 


386  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

MME.  KOUSSEAU  (with  excitement) 
Well,  why  not? 

MME.  GIRAUD  (with  vehemence) 
How  was  that,  madame? 

DUPRE  (seizing  the  hand  of  Mme.  Giraud) 
Come,   come !     Bring   me   your   daughter.      (Exit   Mme. 
Giraud.) 

DE  VERBY  AND  MME.  DU  BROCARD. 
You  hare  then  made  up  your  mind  ? 

DUPRE 
It  is  not  I,  but  madame  who  has  made  up  her  mind. 

DE  VERBY  (questioning  Mme.  du  Brocard) 
What  has  she  promised? 

DUPRE  (seeing  that  Joseph  is  listening) 
Be  silent,  general ;  stay  for  a  moment,  I  heg  you,  with  these 
ladies.  Here  she  comes.  Now  leave  us  alone,  if  you  please. 
(Pamela  is  brought  in  by  her  mother.  She  makes  a  curtsey 
to  Mme.  Rousseau,  who  gazes  at  her  with  emotion;  then 
Dupre  leads  all  but  Pamela  into  the  other  room;  Joseph  re- 
mains behind.) 

JOSEPH  (aside) 

I  wonder  what  they  mean.  They  all  talk  of  a  sacrifice! 
And  old  Giraud  won't  say  a  word  to  me !  Well,  I  can  bide  my 
time.  I  promised  the  advocate  that  I  would  give  him  my 
fourteen  hundred  francs,  but  before  I  do  so,  I  would  like  to 
see  how  he  acts  with  regard  to  me. 

DUPRE  (going  up  to  Joseph) 
Joseph  Binet,  you  must  leave  the  room. 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  387 

JOSEPH 
And  not  hear  what  you  say  about  me? 

DUPRE 
You  must  go  away. 

JOSEPH  (aside) 

It  is  evident  that  they  are  concealing  something  from  me. 
(To  Dupre)  I  have  prepared  her  mind;  she  is  much  taken 
with  the  idea  of  transportation.  Stick  to  that  point. 

DUPRE 
All  right !    But  you  must  leave  the  room. 

JOSEPH  (aside) 

Leave  the  room !  Oh,  indeed !  not  I.  (He  makes  as  if  he 
had  withdrawn,  but,  quietly  returning,  hides  himself  in  a 
closet.) 

DUPRE  (to  Pamela) 

You  have  consented  to  see  me,  and  I  thank  you  for  it.  I 
know  exactly  what  has  recently  taken  place  here,  and  I  am  not 
going  to  address  you  in  the  same  way  as  you  have  been  re- 
cently addressed. 

PAMELA 
Your  very  presence  assures  me  of  that,  sir. 

DUPRE 
You  are  in  love  with  this  fine  young  man,  this  Joseph  ? 

PAMELA 
I  am  aware,  sir,  that  advocates  are  like  confessors ! 

DUPRE 

My  child,  they  have  to  be  just  as  safe  confidants.  You  may 
tell  me  everything  without  reserve. 


388  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

PAMELA 

Well,  sir,  I  did  love  him;  that  is  to  say,  I  thought  I  loved 
him,  and  I  would  very  willingly  have  become  his  wife.  I 
thought  that  with  his  energy  Joseph  would  have  made  a  good 
business,  and  that  we  could  lead  together  a  life  of  toil.  When 
prosperity  came,  we  would  have  taken  with  us  my  father  and 
my  mother;  it  was  all  very  clear — it  would  have  been  a 
united  family ! 

i 
DTJPRE  (aside) 

The  appearance  of  this  young  girl  is  in  her  favor !  Let  us 
see  whether  she  is  sincere  or  not.  (Aloud)  What  are  you 
thinking  about  ? 

PAMELA 

I  was  thinking  about  those  past  days,  which  seemed  to  me 
so  happy  in  comparison  with  the  present.  A  fortnight  ago  my 
head  was  turned  by  the  sight  of  M.  Jules;  I  fell  in  love  with 
him,  as  young  girls  do  fall  in  love,  as  I  have  seen  other  young 
girls  fall  in  love  with  young  men — with  a  love  which  would 
endure  everything  for  those  they  loved  !  I  used  to  say  to  my- 
self:  shall  I  ever  be  like  that?  Well,  at  this  moment  I  do 
not  know  anything  that  I  would  not  endure  for  M.  Jules.  A 
few  moments  ago  they  offered  me  money, — they,  from  whom 
I  expected  such  nobleness,  such  greatness;  and  I  was  dis- 
gusted !  Money !  I  have  plenty  of  it,  sir !  I  have  twenty 
thousand  francs !  They  are  here,  they  are  yours !  that  is  to 
say,  they  are  his !  I  have  kept  them  to  use  in  my  efforts  to  save 
him,  for  I  have  betrayed  him,  because  I  doubted  him,  while 
he  was  so  confident,  so  sure  of  me — and  I  was  so  distrustful 
of  him ! 

DUPRE 
And  he  gave  you  twenty  thousand  francs  ? 

PAMELA 
Ah,  sir!    he  entrusted  them  with  me.     Here  they  are.     I 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  380 

shall  return  them  to  his  family,  if  he  dies;  but  he  shall  not 
die !    Tell  me  ?    Is  it  not  so  ?    You  ought  to  know. 

DUPRE 

My  dear  child,  bear  in  mind  that  your  whole  life,  perhaps 
your  happiness,  depend  upon  the  truthfulness  of  your  answers. 
Answer  me  as  if  you  stood  in  the  presence  of  God. 

PAMELA 
I  will. 

DUPRE 

You  have  never  loved  any  one  before  ? 

PAMELA 

Never ! 

DUPRE 

You  seem  to  be  afraid !  Come,  I  am  terrifying  you.  You 
are  not  giving  me  your  confidence. 

PAMELA 

Oh,  yes  I  am,  sir ;  I  swear  I  am !  Since  we  have  been  in 
Paris,  I  have  never  left  my  mother,  and  I  have  thought  of 
nothing  but  my  work  and  my  duty.  I  was  alarmed  and 
thrown  into  confusion  a  few  moments  ago,  sir,  but  you  inspire 
me  with  confidence,  and  I  can  tell  you  everything.  Well,  I 
acknowledge  it, — I  am  in  love  with  Jules ;  he  is  the  only  one 
I  love,  and  I  would  follow  him  to  the  end  of  the  world !  You 
told  me  to  speak  as  in  the  presence  of  God. 

DUPRE 

Well,  it  is  to  your  heart  that  I  am  going  to  appeal.  Do  for 
me  what  you  have  refused  to  do  for  others.  Tell  me  the 
truth !  You  alone  have  the  power  to  save  him  before  the  face 
of  justice!  You  love  him,  Pamela;  I  understand  what  it 
would  cost  you  to — 


390  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

PAMELA 

To  avow  my  love  for  him  ?  Would  that  be  sufficient  to  save 
him? 

DUPRE 
I  will  answer  for  that  ! 

PAMELA 
Well? 

DUPRE 
My  child! 

PAMELA 
Well  —  he  is  saved. 

DUPRE  (earnestly) 
But  —  you  will  be  compromised  — 

PAMELA 
But  after  all  it  is  for  him. 

DUPRE  (aside) 

I  never  expected  it,  but  I  shall  not  die  without  having  seen 
with  my  own  eyes  an  example  of  beautiful  and  noble  candor, 
destitute  alike  of  self-interest  and  designing  reserve.  (Aloud) 
Pamela,  you  are  a  good  and  generous  girl. 

PAMELA 
To  act  this  way  consoles  me  for  many  little  miseries  of  life 


My  child,  that  is  not  everything!  You  are  true  as  steel 
you  are  high-spirited.  But  in  order  to  succeed  it  is  necessary 
to  have  assurance  —  determination  — 

PAMELA 
Oh,  sir!    You  shall  see! 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  391 

DUFRE 

Do  not  be  over-anxious.  Dare  to  confess  everything.  Be 
brave !  Imagine  that  you  are  before  the  Court  of  Assizes, 
the  presiding  judge,  the  public  prosecutor,  the  prisoner  at 
the  bar,  and  me,  his  advocate;  the  jury  is  on  one  side.  The 
big  court-room  is  filled  with  people.  Do  not  be  alarmed. 

PAMELA 
You  needn't  fear  for  me. 

DUPRE 

A  court  officer  brings  you  in;  you  have  given  your  name 
and  surname !  Then  the  presiding  judge  asks  you  "How 
long  have  you  known  the  prisoner,  Bousseau?" — What  would 
you  answer? 

PAMELA 

The  truth!— I  met  him  about  a  month  before  his  arrest 
at  the  lie  d' Amour,  Belleville. 

DUPRE 

Who  were  with  him? 

PAMELA 

I  noticed  no  one  but  him. 

DUPRE 
Did  you  hear  them  talk  politics? 

PAMELA  (in  astonishment) 

Oh,  sir !  The  judges  must  be  aware  that  politics  are  mat- 
ters of  indifference  at  the  He  d' Amour. 

DUPRE 

Very  good,  my  child!  But  you  must  tell  them  all  you 
know  about  Jules  Eousseau. 


392  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

PAMELA 

Of  course.  I  shall  still  speak  the  truth,  and  repeat  my 
testimony  before  the  police  justice.  I  knew  nothing  of  the 
conspiracy,  and  was  infinitely  surprised  when  he  was  arrested 
in  my  room;  the  proof  of  which  is  that  I  feared  M.  Jules 
was  a  thief  and  afterwards  apologized  for  my  suspicion. 

DUPRE 

You  must  acknowledge  that  from  the  time  of  your  first 
acquaintance  with  this  young  man,  he  constantly  came  to  see 
you.  You  must  declare — 

PAMELA 

I  shall  stick  to  the  truth — He  never  left  me  alone!  He 
came  to  see  me  for  love,  I  received  him  from  friendship,  and 
I  resisted  him  from  a  sense  of  duty — 

DUPRE 
And  at  last? 

PAMELA  (anxiously) 
At  last? 

DUPRE 

You  are  trembling !  Take  care ! — Just  now  you  promised 
me  to  tell  the  truth ! 

PAMELA  (aside) 
The  truth !    Oh  my  God ! 

DUPRE 

I  also  am  interested  in  this  young  man;  but  I  recoil  from 
a  possible  imposture.  If  he  is  guilty,  my  duty  bids  me  defend 
him,  if  he  is  innocent,  his  cause  shall  be  mine.  Yes.  without 
doubt,  Pamela,  I  am  about  to  demand  from  you  a  great  sacri- 
fice, but  he  needs  it.  The  visits  which  Jules  made  to  you 
were  in  the  evening,  and  without  the  knowledge  of  your 
parents. 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  393 

PAMELA 
Why  no!  never! 

DUPRE 

How  is  this?  for  in  that  case  there  would  be  no  hope  for 
him. 

PAMELA  (aside) 

No  hope  for  him!  Then  either  he  or  I  must  be  ruined. 
(Aloud)  Sir,  do  not  be  alarmed;  I  felt  a  little  fear  because 
the  real  danger  was  not  before  my  eyes.  But  when  I  shall 
stand  before  the  judges ! — when  once  I  shall  see  him,  see 
Jules — and  feel  that  his  safety  depends  upon  me — 

DUPRE 

That  is  good,  very  good.  But  what  is  most  necessary  to  be 
made  known  is  that  on  the  evening  of  the  twenty-fourth,  he 
came  here.  If  that  is  once  understood,  I  shall  be  successful 
in  saving  him;  otherwise,  I  can  answer  for  nothing.  He  is 
lost! 

PAMELA  (murmuring,  greatly  agitated) 

Lost ! — Jules  lost ! — No,  no,  no  ! — Better  that  my  own  good 
name  be  lost !  (Aloud)  Yes,  he  came  here  on  the  twenty- 
fourth.  (Aside)  God  forgive  me !  (Aloud)  It  was  my  saint's 
day — my  name  is  Louise  Pamela — and  he  was  kind  enough  to 
bring  me  a  bouquet,  without  the  knowledge  of  my  father  or 
my  mother ;  he  came  in  the  evening,  late.  Ah !  you  need  have 
'no  fear,  sir — you  see  I  shall  tell  all.  (Aside)  And  all  is  a  lie ! 

DUPRE 

He  will  be  saved!  (Rousseau  appears.)  Ah!  sir!  (run- 
ning to  the  door  of  the  room)  Come  all  of  you  and  thank 
your  deliverer! 


394  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

SCENE  SIXTH. 

KOUSSEAU,    DE    VERBY,    MADAME    DU    BROCARD,    GIRAUD, 
MADAME  GIRAUD,  DUPRE,  AND  LATER  JOSEPH  BINET. 

ALL 
Does  she  consent  ? 

EOUSSEAU 

You  have  saved  my  son.    I  shall  never  forget  it. 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
You  have  put  us  under  eternal  obligations,  my  child. 

KOUSSEAU 
My  fortune  shall  be  at  your  disposal. 

DUPRE 

I  will  not  say  anything  to  you,  my  child !  We  shall  meet 
again ! — 

JOSEPH  (coming  out  of  the  closet) 

One  moment!  one  moment!  I  have  heard  everything — 
and  do  you  believe  that  I  am  going  to  put  up  with  that?  I 
was  here  in  concealment  all  the  time.  And  do  you  think  you 
are  going  to  let  Pamela,  whom  I  have  loved  and  have  wished 
to  make  my  wife,  say  all  that?  (To  Dupre)  This  is  the  way 
you  are  going  to  earn  my  fourteen  hundred  francs,  eh !  Well, 
I  shall  go  to  court  myself  and  testify  that  the  whole  thing 
is  a  lie. 

ALL 
Great  heavens! 

DUPRE 
You  miserable  wretch ! 

DE  VERBT 
If  you  say  a  single  word — 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  395 

JOSEPH 
Oh,  I  ain't  afraid ! 

DE  VEEBY  (to  Rousseau  and  Mme.  du  Brocard) 
He  shall  never  go  to  court !    If  necessary,  I  will  have  him 
shadowed,  and  I  will  put  men  on  the  watch  to  prevent  him 
from  entering. 

JOSEPH 

Fd  just  like  to  see  you  try  it !  (Enter  a  sheriff's  officer,  who 
goes  up  to  Dupre.) 

DUPRE 

What  do  you  want  ? 

THE  SHERIFF'S  OFFICER 

I  am  the  court  officer  of  the  assizes — Mile.  Pamela  Giraud ! 
(Pamela  comes  forward.)  In  virtue  of  discretionary  authority 
of  the  presiding  judge,  you  are  summoned  to  appear  before 
him  to-morrow  at  ten  o'clock. 

JOSEPH  (to  De  Verby) 
I  will  go  also. 

THE  OFFICER 

The  porter  has  told  me  that  you  have  here  a  gentleman 
named  Joseph  Binet. 

JOSEPH 
Here  I  am! 

THE  OFFICER 
Please  take  your  summons. 

JOSEPH 

I  told  you  that  I  would  go !  (The  officer  withdraws;  every 
one  is  alarmed  at  the  threats  of  Binet.  Dupre  tries  to  speak 
to  him  and  reason  with  him,  but  he  steals  away.) 

Curtain  to  the  Third  Act. 


396  PAMELA  GIRAUD 


ACT  IV. 


SCENE  FIRST. 

(The  stage  represents  Madame  du  Brocard's  salon,  from 
which  can  be  seen  the  Court  of  Assizes.) 

MADAME    DU    BROCARD,    MADAME    ROUSSEAU,    ROUSSEAU, 
JOSEPH  BINET,  DUPRE  AND  JUSTINE. 

(Dupre  is  seated  reading  his  note-book.) 

MME.  ROUSSEAU. 
M.  DuprS! 

DUPRE 

Yes,  madame,  the  court  adjourned  after  the  speech  of  the 
prosecuting  attorney.  And  I  came  over  to  reassure  you 
personally. 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 

I  told  you,  sister,  that  some  one  was  sure  to  come  and  keep 
us  informed  about  things.  In  my  house  here,  which  is  so  close 
to  the  court  house,  we  are  in  a  favorable  position  for  learning 
all  that  goes  on  at  the  trial.  Ah,  M.  Dupre  !  How  can  we 
thank  you  enough!  You  spoke  superbly!  (To  Justine) 
Justine,  bring  in  something  to  drink  —  Quick! 

ROUSSEAU 
Sir,  your  speech  —  (To  his  wife)     He  was  magnificent. 


Sir,— 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  397 

JOSEPH  (in  tears) 
Yes,  you  were  magnificent,  magnificent ! 

DUPRE 

I  am  not  the  person  you  ought  to  thank,  but  that  child, 
that  Pamela,  who  showed  such  astonishing  courage. 

JOSEPH 
And  didn't  I  do  well? 

MME.  ROUSSEAU. 

And  he  (pointing  to  Binet)  did  he  carry  out  the  threat  he 
made  to  us? 

DUPRE 

No,  he  took  your  side. 

JOSEPH 

It  was  your  fault!  but  for  you — Ah! — Well — I  reached 
the  court  house,  having  made  up  my  mind  to  mix  up  every- 
thing; but  when  I  saw  all  the  people,  the  judge,  the  jury, 
the  crowd,  and  the  terrible  silence,  I  trembled !  Neverthe- 
less I  screwed  up  my  courage.  When  I  was  questioned,  I  was 
just  about  to  answer,  when  my  glance  met  the  eyes  of  Mile. 
Pamela,  which  were  filled  with  tears — I  felt  as  if  my  tongue 
was  bound.  And  on  the  other  side  I  saw  M.  Jules — a  hand- 
some youth,  his  fine  face  conspicuous  among  them  all.  His 
expression  was  as  tranquil  as  if  he  had  been  a  mere  spectator. 
That  knocked  me  out !  "Don't  be  afraid,"  said  the  judge  to 
me.  I  was  absolutely  beside  myself !  I  was  afraid  of  making 
some  mistake;  and  then  I  had  sworn  to  keep  to  the  truth; 
and  then  M.  Ditpre  fixed  his  eye  on  me.  I  can't  tell  you  what 
that  eye  seemed  to  say  to  me — My  tongue  seemed  twisted  up. 
I  broke  out  into  a  sweat — my  heart  beat  hard — and  I  began 
to  cry,  like  a  fool.  You  were  magnificent.  And  then  in  a 
moment  it  was  all  over.  He  made  me  do  exactly  what  he 
wanted.  This  is  the  way  I  lied :  T  said  that  on  the  evening 
of  the  twenty-fourth  I  unexpectedly  came  to  Pamela's  room 


398  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

and  foilnd  M.  Jules  there — Yes,  at  Pamela's,  the  girl  whom 
I  was  going  to  marry,  whom  I  still  love — and  our  marriage 
will  be  the  talk  of  the  whole  neighborhood.  Never  mind,  he's 
a  great  lawyer!  Never  mind!  (To  Justine)  Give  me  some- 
thing to  drink,  will  you? 

BOUSSEAU,  MME.  ROUSSEAU,  MME.  DU  BROCARD  (To  Joseph) 
Dear  friend !     You  showed  yourself  a  fine  fellow ! 

DUPRE 

The  energy  shown  by  Pamela  makes  me  hopeful.  I  trem- 
bled for  a  moment  while  she  was  giving  evidence;  the  prose- 
cuting attorney  pressed  her  very  hard  and  seemed  to  doubt 
her  veracity;  she  grew  pale  and  I  thought  she  was  going  to 
faint. 

JOSEPH 
And  what  must  my  feelings  have  been  ? 

DUPRE 

Her  self-sacrifice  was  wonderful.  You  don't  realize  all  that 
she  has  undergone  for  you;  I,  myself  even,  was  deceived  in 
her;  she  was  her  own  accuser,  yet  all  the  time  was  innocent. 
Only  one  moment  did  she  falter;  but  darting  a  rapid  glance 
at  Jules,  she  suddenly  rallied,  a  blush  took  the  place  of  pallor 
on  her  countenance,  and  we  felt  that  she  had  saved  her  lover ; 
in  spite  of  the  risk  she  was  running,  she  repeated  once  more 
before  all  those  people  the  story  of  her  own  disgrace,  and 
then  fell  weeping  into  the  arms  of  her  mother. 

JOSEPH 
Yes,  she  is  a  fine  girl. 

DUPRE  • 

But  I  must  leave  you;  the  summing  up  of  the  Judge  will 
come  this  afternoon. 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  399 

ROUSSEAU 
We  must  be  going  then. 

DUPRE. 

One  moment !     Do  not  forget  Pamela !     That  young  girl 
has  compromised  her  own  honor  for  you  and  for  him. 

JOSEPH 
As  for  me,  I  don't  ask  anything,  but  I  haye  been  led  to 

expect — 

MME.  DU  BROCARD,  MME.  ROUSSEAU. 
We  can  never  pay  our  debt  of  gratitude  to  you. 

DUPRE 

Very  good ;  come,  gentlemen,  we  must  be  starting.    (Exeunt 
Dupre  and  Rousseau.) 


SCENE  SECOND. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  EXCEPTING  DUPRE  AND  ROSSEAU. 

MME.  DU  BROCARD  (stopping  Joseph  on  his  way  out) 
Listen  to  me ! 

JOSEPH 
What  can  I  do  for  you  ? 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 

You  see  in  what  a  state  of  anxiety  we  are ;  don't  fail  to  let 
us  know  the  least  turn  in  our  favor  which  the  trial  takes. 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 
Yes,  keep  us  well  informed  on  the  whole  business. 


400  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

JOSEPH 

You  may  rest  assured  of  that — But  look  here,  I  needn't 
leave  the  court  house  to  do  that,  I  intend  to  see  everything, 
and  to  hear  everything.  But  do  you  see  that  window  there? 
My  seat  is  just  under  it;  you  watch  that  window,  and  if  he 
is  declared  innocent  you  will  see  me  wave  my  handkerchief. 

MME.  EOUSSEAU 
Do  not  forget  to  do  so.  ' 

JOSEPH 

No  danger  of  that ;  I  am  a  poor  chap,  but  I  know  what  a 
mother's  heart  is !  I  am  interested  in  this  case,  and  for  you, 
and  for  Pamela,  I  have  said  a  lot  of  things !  But  when  you 
are  fond  of  people  you'll  do  anything,  and  then  I  have  been 
promised  something — you  may  count  upon  me.  (Exit.) 


SCENE  THIRD. 
THE  SAME  PEESONS  EXCEPTING  DUPRE  AND  KOUSSEAU. 

MME.  EOUSSEAU 

Justine,  open  this  window,  and  wait  for  the  signal  which 
the  young  man  has  promised  to  give — Ah !  but  suppose  my 
boy  were  condemned ! 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
M.  Dupr6  has  spoken  very  hopefully  about  matters. 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 

But  with  regard  to  this  good  girl,  this  admirable  Pamela — 
what  must  we  do  for  her  ? 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
We  ought  to  do  something  to  make  her  happy !    I  acknowl- 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  401 

edge  that  this  young  person  is  a  succor  sent  from  heaven! 
Only  a  noble  heart  could  make  the  sacrifice  that  she  has  made ! 
She  deserves  a  fortune  for  it !  Thirty  thousand  francs ! 
that  is  what  she  ought  to  have.  Jules  owes  his  life  to  her. 
(Aside)  Poor  boy,  will  his  life  be  saved?  (She  looks  toward 
the  window.) 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 
Well,  Justine,  do  you  see  anything? 

JUSTINE 
Nothing,  madame. 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 

Nothing  yet !  Yes  you  are  right,  sister,  it  is  only  the  heart 
that  can  prompt  such  noble  actions.  I  do  not  know  what  you 
and  my  husband  would  think  about  it,  but  if  we  considered 
what  was  right,  and  had  full  regard  to  the  happiness  of  Jules, 
apart  from  the  brilliant  prospect  of  an  alliance  with  the  fam- 
ily of  De  Verby,  if  my  son  loved  her  and  she  loved  my  son — 
it  seems  to  me  reasonable — 

MME.  DU  BROCARD  AND  JUSTINE 
No!    No! 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 

Oh,  sister !  say  yes !  Has  she  not  well  deserved  it  ?  But 
there  is  some  one  coming.  (The  two  women  remain  in  their 
seats  with  clasped  hands.) 


SCENE  FOURTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  DE  VERBY. 

JUSTINE 
M.  le  General  de  Yerbv! 


402  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

MME.  ROUSSEAU  AND  MME.  DU  BROCARD. 
Ah! 

DE  VERBY 

Everything  is  going  on  well !  My  presence  was  no  longer 
necessary,  so  I  return  to  you.  There  are  great  hopes  of  your 
son's  acquittal.  The  charge  of  the  presiding  judge  is  decid' 
edly  in  his  favor. 

MME.  ROUSSEAU  (joyfully) 
Thank  God ! 

DE  VERBY 

Jules  had  behaved  admirably!  My  brother  the  Comte  de 
Verby  is  very  much  interested  in  his  favor.  My  niece  looks 
upon  him  as  a  hero,  and  I  know  courage  and  honorable  con- 
duct when  I  see  them.  When  once  this  affair  has  been  settled, 
we  will  hasten  the  marriage. 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 

We  ought  to  tell  you,  sir,  that  we  have  made  certain  prom- 
ises to  this  young  girl. 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
Never  mind  that,  sister. 

DE  VERBY 

Doubtless  the  young  girl  deserves  some  recompense,  and  I 
suppose  you  will  give  her  fifteen  or  twenty  thousand  francs, — 
that  is  due  her. 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 

You  see,  sister,  that  M.  de  Verby  is  a  noble  and  generous 
man,  and  since  he  has  fixed  upon  this  sum,  I  think  it  will 
be  sufficient. 

JUSTINE 

M.  Rousseau! 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  403 

MME.  DU  BROCAED 


0  brother! 

MME.  EOUSSEAU 
Dear  husband! 


SCENE  FIFTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  ROUSSEAU. 

DE  VERBY  (to  Rousseau) 
Have  you  good  news  ? 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 
Is  he  acquitted  ? 

ROUSSEAU 

No,  but  it  is  rumored  that  he  is  going  to  be;  the  jury  are 
in  consultation;  I  couldn't  stay  there  any  longer;  I  couldn't 
stand  the  suspense;  I  told  Antoine  to  hurry  here  as  soon  as 
the  verdict  is  given. 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 

We  shall  learn  what  the  verdict  is  from  this  window;  we 
have  agreed  upon  a  signal  to  be  given  by  that  youth,  Joseph 
Binet. 

ROUSSEAU 
Ah!  keep  a  good  look  out,  Justine. 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 

And  how  is  Jules?  What  a  trying  time  it  must  be  for 
him! 

ROUSSEAU 

Not  at  all!  The  unfortunate  boy  astonishes  me  by  his 
coolness.  Such  courage  as  he  has  is  worthy  of  a  better  cause 
than  that  of  conspiracy.  To  think  of  his  having  put  us  in 
such  a  position !  But  for  this  I  might  have  been  appointed 
President  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce. 


404 


You  forget  that,  after  all,  his  marriage  with  a  member  of 
my  family  will  make  some  amends  for  his  trouble. 

EOUSSEAD  (struck  by  a  sudden  thought) 

Ah,  general !  When  I  left  the  court  room,  Jules  stood  sur- 
rounded by  his  friends,  among  whom  were  M.  Dupre  and  the 
young  girl  Pamela.  Your  niece  and  Madame  de  Verby  must 
have  noticed  it,  and  I  hope  that  you  will  try  to  explain  mat- 
ters to  them.  (While  Rousseau  speaks  with  the  general  the 
ladies  are  watching  for  the  signal.) 

DE  VERBY 

Eest  assured  of  that!  I  will  take  care  that  Jules  appears 
as  white  as  snow !  It  is  of  very  great  importance  to  explain 
this  affair  of  the  working-girl,  otherwise  the  Comtesse  de 
Verby  might  oppose  the  marriage.  We  must  explain  away 
this  apparent  amour,  and  she  must  be  made  to  understand 
that  the  girl's  evidence  was  a  piece  of  self-sacrifice  for  which 
she  had  been  paid. 

KOUSSEAU 

I  certainly  intend  to  do  my  duty  towards  that  young  girl. 
1  shall  give  her  eight  or  ten  thousand  francs.  It  seems  to 
me  that  that  will  be  liberal,  very  liberal! 

MME.  KOUSSEAU  (while  Mme.  du  Brocard  tries  to 
restrain  her) 

Ah!  sir,  but  what  of  her  honor? 


EOUSSEAU 


.KOUSSEAU 

Well,  I  suppose  that  some  one  will  marry  her. 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  405 

SCENE  SIXTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  JOSEPH. 

JOSEPH  (dashing  in) 

Monsieur!  Madame!  Give  me  some  cologne  or  some- 
thing I  beg  you ! 

ALL 
Whatever  can  be  the  matter? 

JOSEPH 
M.  Antoine,  your  footman,  is  bringing  Pamela  here. 

EOUSSEAU 
Has  anything  happened  ? 

JOSEPH 

When  she  saw  the  jury  come  in  to  give  their  verdict  she 
was  taken  ill !  Her  father  and  mother,  who  were  in  the  crowd 
at  the  other  end  of  the  court,  couldn't  stir.  I  cried  out,  and 
the  presiding  judge  made  them  put  me  out  of  court ! 

MME.  EOUSSEAU 
But  Jules !  my  son !    What  did  the  jury  say ! 

JOSEPH 

I  know  nothing ! — I  had  no  eyes  except  for  Pamela — As  for 
your  son,  I  suppose  he  is  all  right,  but  first  with  me  comes 
Pamela — 

DE  VERBY 

But  you  must  have  seen  how  the  jury  looked  I 

JOSEPH 

Oh,  yes!  The  foreman  of  the  jury  looked  so  gloomy — so 
severe — that  I  am  quite  persuaded — (He  shudders.) 


406  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

MME.  EODSSEAU 
My  poor  Jules ! 

JOSEPH 

Here  comes  Antoine  and  Mile.  Pamela. 


SCENE  SEVENTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  ANTOINE  AND  PAMELA. 
(They  lead  Pamela  to  a  seat  and  give  her  smelling  salts.) 

MME.  DU  BEOCARD 
My  dear  child ! 

MME.  EOUSSEAD 

My  daughter ! 

ROUSSEAU 

Mademoiselle ! 

PAMELA 

I  couldn't  stand  it  any  longer,  the  excitement  was  toe 
great — and  the  suspense  was  so  cruel.  I  tried  to  brace  up  my 
courage  by  the  calmness  of  M.  Jules  while  the  jury  was  de- 
liberating; the  smile  which  he  wore  made  me  share  his  pre- 
sentiment of  coming  release !  But  I  was  chilled  to  the  heart 
when  I  looked  at  the  pale,  impassive  countenance  of  M. 
Dupre ! — And  then,  the  sound  of  the  bell  that  announced  the 
return  of  the  jury,  and  the  murmur  of  anxiety  that  ran 
through  the  court — I  was  quite  overcome ! — A  cold  sweat 
suffused  my  cheek  and  I  fainted. 

JOSEPH 
As  for  me,  I  shouted  out,  and  they  threw  me  into  the  street. ' 

DE  VERBY  (to  Rousseau} 
If  by  mischance — 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  407 

ROUSSEAU 
Sir! 

DE  VERBY  (to  Rousseau  and  the  women) 

If  it  should  be  found  necessary  to  appeal  the  case  (pointing 
to  Pamela),  could  we  count  upon  her? 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 
On  her  ? — To  the  end ;  I  am  sure  of  that. 

MME.  DU  BROCAED 
Pamela ! 

ROUSSEAU 

Tell  me,  you  who  have  shown  yourself  so  good,  so  gen- 
erous,— if  we  should  still  have  need  of  your  unselfish,  aid, 
would  you  be  ready? 

PAMELA 

Quite  ready,  sir!  I  have  but  one  object,  one  single 
thought ! — and  that  is,  to  save  M.  Jules ! 

JOSEPH  (aside) 
She  loves  him,  she  loves  him  ! 

ROUSSEAU 

Ah !  all  that  I  have  is  at  your  disposal.  (A  murmur  and 
cries  are  heard;  general  alarm.) 

ALL 

What  a  noise  they  are  making !  (Pamela  totters  to  her  feet; 
Joseph  runs  to  the  window,  where  Justine  is  watching.) 
Listen  to  their  shouts ! 

JOSEPH 

There's  a  crowd  of  people  rushing  down  the  steps  of  the 
court, — they  are  coming  here! 


408  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

JUSTINE  AND  JOSEPH 
It  is  M.  Jules! 

EOUSSEAU  AND  MME.  ROUSSEAU 

My  son ! 

MME.  DU  BROCARD  AND  PAMELA 
Jules !     (They  rush  forward  to  Jules.) 

DE  VERBY 
He  is  acquitted ! 


SCENE  EIGHTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  JULES  (brought  in  by  his  mother 
and  his  aunt  and  followed  by  his  friends). 

JULES  (He  flings  himself  into  the  arms  of  his  mother;   he 
does  not  at  first  see  Pamela,  who  is  seated 

in  a  corner  near  Joseph) 

0  mother!  Dear  aunt!  And  my  father!  Here  I  am 
restored  to  liberty  again !  (To  General  de  Verby  and  the 
friends  who  have  come  with  him)  Let  me  thank  you,  general, 
and  you,  my  friends,  for  your  kind  sympathy.  (After  general 
handshaking  the  friends  depart.) 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 

And  so  my  son  has  at  last  come  back  to  me !  It  seems  too 
good  to  be  true. 

JOSEPH  (to  Pamela) 

Well,  and  what  of  you  ?    He  hasn't  said  a  word  to  you,  an« 
you  are  the  only  one  he  hasn't  seen. 

PAMELA 

Silence,  Joseph,  silence!  (She  retires  to  the  end  of  the 
stage.) 


PAMELA  GIRAJD  409 

DE  VERBY 

Not  only  have  you  been  acquitted,  but  you  have  also  gained 
a  high  place  in  the  esteem  of  those  who  are  interested  in  the 
affair !  You  have  exhibited  both  courage  and  discretion,  such 
as  have  gratified  us  all. 

ROUSSEAU 

Everybody  has  behaved  well.  Antoine,  you  have  done 
nobly ;  you  will  end  your  life  in  this  house. 

MME.  EOUSSEAU  (to  Jules) 

Let  me  express  my  gratitude  to  M.  Adolph  Durand  ?  (Jules 
presents  his  friend.) 

JULES 

Yes,  but  my  real  deliverer,  my  guardian  angel  is  poor 
Pamela !  How  well  she  understood  my  situation  and  her  own 
also !  What  self-sacrifice  she  showed !  Can  I  ever  forget  her 
emotion,  her  terror ! — and  then  she  fainted  !  (Mme.  Rous- 
seau, who  has  been  thinking  of  nothing  else  but  her  son,  now 
looks  around  for  Pamela,  sees  her,  and  brings  her  up  to 
Jules.)  Ah,  Pamela  !  Pamela !  My  gratitude  to  you  shall  be 
eternal ! 

PAMELA 

Ah,  M.  Jules ! — How  happy  I  feel ! 

JULES 

We  will  never  part  again  ?  Will  we,  mother  ?  She  shall  be 
your  daughter! 

DE  VERBY  (to  Rousseau  with  vehemence) 

My  sister  and  my  niece  are  expecting  an  answer;  you  will 
have  to  exercise  your  authority,  sir.  This  young  man  seems 
to  have  a  lively  and  romantic  imagination.  He  is  in  danger 
of  missing  his  career  through  a  too  scrupulous  sense  of  honor, 
and  a  generosity  which  is  tinged  with  folly ! 


410  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

KOUSSEAU  (in  embarrassment) 
The  fact  is — 

DE  VERBY 
But  I  have  your  word. 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
Speak  out,  brother! 

JULES  i 

Mother,  do  you  answer  them,  and  show  yourself  on  my 
side? 

EOUSSEAU  (talcing  Jules  by  the  hand) 
Jules! — I  shall  never  forget  the  service  which  this  young 
girl  has  done  us.  I  understand  the  promptings  of  your  grati- 
tude ;  but  as  you  are  aware  the  Comte  de  Verby  has  our  prom- 
ise; it  is  not  right  that  you  should  lightly  sacrifice  your 
future!  You  are  not  wanting  in  energy,  you  have  given 
sufficient  proof  of  that !  A  young  conspirator  should  be  quite 
able  to  extricate  himself  from  such  an  affair  as  this. 

DE  VERBY  (to  Jules') 

Undoubtedly!  and  our  future  diplomat  will  have  a  splen- 
did chance. 

KOUSSEAU 
Moreover  my  wishes  in  the  matter — 

JULES 
0  father! 

DUPRE  (appearing) 
Jules,  I  still  have  to  take  up  your  defence. 

PAMELA  AND  JOSEPH. 
M.  Dupre"! 

JULES 
My  friend! 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  411 

MME.  DU  BBOCARD 
It  is  the  lawyer. 

DUPRE 

I  see!    I  am  no  longer  "my  dear  Monsieur  Dupre"! 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 

Oh,  you  are  always  that !  But  before  paying  our  debt  of 
gratitude  to  you,  we  have  to  think  about  this  young  girl. 

DUPRE  (coldly) 
I  beg  your  pardon,  madame. 

DE  VERBY 
This  man  is  going  to  spoil  everything. 

DUPRE  (to  Rousseau) 

I  heard  all  you  said.  It  transcends  all  I  have  ever  expe- 
rienced. I  could  not  have  believed  that  ingratitude  could 
follow  so  soon  on  the  acceptance  of  a  benefit.  Rich  as  you 
are,  rich  as  your  son  will  be,  what  fairer  task  have  you  to 
perform  than  that  of  satisfying  your  conscience?  In  saving 
Jules,  this  girl  has  brought  disgrace  upon  herself !  Can  it  be 
possible  that  the  fortune  which  you  have  so  honorably  gained 
should  have  killed  in  your  heart  every  generous  sentiment, 
and  that  self-interest  alone — (He  sees  Mme.  du  Brocard 
making  signs  to  her  brother.)  Ah!  that  is  right,  madame! 
It  is  you  that  give  the  tone  in  this  household !  And  I  forgot 
while  I  was  pleading  with  this  gentleman,  that  you  would  be 
at  his  elbow  when  I  was  no  longer  here. 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 

We  have  pledged  our  word  to  the  Count  and  Countess  of 
Verby! — Mile.  Pamela,  whose  friend  I  shall  be  all  my  life, 
did  not  effect  the  deliverance  of  my  nephew  on  the  under- 
standing that  she  should  blight  his  prospects. 


412  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

UOUSSEAU 

There  ought  to  be  some  basis  of  equality  in  a  union  by  mar- 
riage. My  son  will  some  day  have  an  income  of  eighty  thou- 
sand francs. 

JOSEPH  (aside) 

That  suits  me  to  a  T.  I  shall  marry  her  now.  But  this 
fellow  here,  he  talks  more  like  a  Jewish  money-changer  than 
a  father. 

BE  VERBY  (to  Dupre) 

I  think,  sir,  that  your  talent  and  character  are  such  as 
to  claim  our  highest  admiration  and  esteem.  The  Eousseau 
family  will  always  preserve  your  name  in  grateful  memory; 
but  these  private  discussions  must  be  carried  on  without  wit- 
nesses from  the  outside.  M.  Eousseau  has  given  me  his  word 
and  I  keep  him  to  his  promise !  (To  Jules)  Come,  my  young 
friend,  come  to  my  brother's  house;  my  niece  is  expecting 
you.  To-morrow  we  will  sign  the  marriage  contract.  (Pamela 
falls  senseless  on  her  chair.) 

JOSEPH 
Ah,  what  have  you  done !    Mile.  Pamela ! 

DUPRE  AND  JULES    (darting  towards  her) 
Good  heavens ! 

DE  VERBY  (taking  Jules  by  the  hand) 
Come — come — 

DUPRE 

Stop  a  moment !  I  should  have  been  glad  to  think  that  I 
was  not  the  only  protector  that  was  left  her !  But  listen,  the 
matter  is  not  yet  ended !  Pamela  will  certainly  be  arrested 
as  a  false  witness !  (Seizes  the  hand  of  De  Verby.)  And  you 
will  all  be  ruined.  (He  leads  off  Pamela.) 

JOSEPH  (hiding  behind  a  sofa) 
Don't  tell  anybody  that  I  am  here ! 

Curtain  to  the  Fourth  Act. 


PAMELA  G1RAUD  413 


ACT  V. 


SCENE  FIRST. 

(The  stage  setting  represents  the  private  study  in  Dupre's 
house.  On  one  side  is  a  bookcase,,  on  the  other  a  desk.  On  the 
left  is  a  window  hung  with  heavy,  sweeping  silk  curtains.) 

DUPRK,  PAMELA,  GIRAUD  AND  MADAME  GIRAUD. 
(Pamela  is  seated  on  a  chair  reading;  her  mother  is  stand- 
ing in  front  of  her;  Giraud  is  examining  the  pictures  on  the 
wall;  Dupre  is  striding  up  and  down  ihe  room.) 

DUPRE  (stopping,  addresses  Giraud) 

Did  you  take  your  usual  precautions  in  coming  here  this 
morning  ? 

GIRAUD 

You  may  rest  assured  of  that,  sir ;  when  I  come  here  I  walk 
with  my  head  turned  backwards !  I  know  well  enough  that 
the  least  want  of  caution  quickly  results  in  misfortune.  Your 
heart,  my  daughter,  has  led  you  astray  this  time;  perjury  is 

a  terrible  thing  and  I  am  afraid  you  are  in  a  serious  mess. 

• 

MME.  GIRAUD 

I  agree  with  you.  You  must  be  very  careful,  Giraud,  for 
if  any  one  were  to  follow  you  and  discover  that  our  poor 
daughter  was  here  in  concealment,  through  the  generosity 
of  M.  Dupre — 

DUPRE 

Come  now,  enough  of  that!  {He  continues  to  stride  has- 
tily about  the  room.)  What  ingratitude!  The  Eousseau 


414  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

family  are  ignorant  of  what  steps  I  have  taken.  They  believe 
that  Pamela  has  been  arrested,  and  none  of  them  trouble 
their  heads  about  it !  They  have  sent  Jules  off  to  Brussels ; 
De  Verby  is  in  the  country ;  and  Rousseau  carries  on  his  busi- 
ness at  the  Bourse  as  if  nothing  else  was  worth  living  for. 
Money,  ambition,  are  their  sole  objects.  The  higher  feelings 
count  for  nothing !  They  all  worship  the  golden  calf.  Money 
makes  them  dance  round  their  idol;  the  sight  of  it  blinds 
them. 

PAMELA  (who  has  been  watching  him,  rises  and  approaches 

him) 

M.  Dupre,  you  are  agitated,  you  seem  unwell.  I  fear  it  is 
on  my  account. 

DUPRE 

Have  you  not  shared  my  disgust  at  the  hateful  want  of 
feeling  manifested  by  this  family,  who,  as  soon  as  their  son 
is  acquitted,  throw  you  aside  as  a  mere  tool  that  has  served 
their  purpose? 

PAMELA 

But  what  can  we  do  about  it,  sir  ? 

DUPRE 
Dear  child,  does  your  heart  feel  no  bitterness  against  them  ? 

PAMELA 

• 

No,  sir !  I  am  happier  than  any  of  them ;  for  I  feel  that 
I  have  done  a  good  deed. 

MME.  GIRAUD  (embracing  Pamela) 
My  poor  dear  daughter! 

GIRAUD 
This  is  the  happiest  moment  of  my  life. 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  415 

DUPBE  (addressing  Pamela) 

Mademoiselle,  you  are  a  noble  girl! — No  one  has  better 
ground  for  saying  it  than  I,  for  it  was  I  who  came  to  you 
imploring  you  to  speak  the  truth ;  and  pure  and  honorable  as 
you  are,  you  have  compromised  your  character  for  the  sake 
of  another.  And  now  they  repulse  you  and  treat  you  with 
contempt;  but  I  look  upon  you  with  hearty  admiration — you 
shall  yet  be  happy,  for  I  will  make  full  reparation  to  you! 
Pamela,  I  am  forty-eight  years  old.  I  have  some  reputation, 
and  a  fortune.  I  have  spent  my  life  as  an  honest  man,  and 
will  finish  it  as  such ;  will  you  be  my  wife  ? 

PAMELA  (much  moved) 
I,  sir? 

GlEAUD 

His  wife!  Our  daughter  his  wife!  What  do  you  say  to 
that,  Mme.  Giraud? 

MME.  GIRAUD 
Can  it  be  possible  ? 

DUPEE 

Why  should  you  wonder  at  this?  Let  us  have  no  idle 
phrases.  Put  the  question  to  your  own  heart — and  answer 
yes  or  no — Will  you  be  my  wife  ? 

PAMELA 

You  are  a  great  man,  sir,  and  I  owe  everything  to  you.  Do 
you  really  wish  to  add  to  the  debt  ?  Ah !  my  gratitude — ! 

DUPEE 

Don't  let  me  hear  you  use  that  word, — it'  spoils  everything ! 
The  world  is  something  that  I  despise !  And  I  render  to  it  no 
account  of  my  conduct,  my  hatred  or  my  love.  From  the 
moment  I  saw  your  courage  and  your  resignation — I  loved 
you.  Try  to  love  me  in  return  ! — 


416  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

PAMELA 
Ah,  sir,  mdeed  I  willl 

MME.  GIRAUD 
Could  any  one  help  loving  you? 

GIRAUD 

Sir,  I  am  only  a  poor  .porter.  I  repeat  it,  I  am  nothing  but 
a  porter.  You  love  our  daughter,  you  have  told  her  so.  For- 
give me — my  eyes  are  full  of  tears — and  that  checks  my  utter- 
ance. (He  wipes  his  eyes.)  Well,  well,  you  do  right  to  love 
her! — It  proves  that  you  have  brains! — for  Pamela — there 
are  a  great  many  landowners'  children  who  are  her  inferiors. 
But  it  is  humiliating  for  her  to  have  parents  such  as  us. 

PAMELA 
0  father! 

GIRAUD 

You  are  a  leader  among  men! — Well,  I  and  my  wife,  we 
will  go  and  hide  ourselves  somewhere  far  into  the  country ! — 
And  on  Sunday,  at  the  hour  of  mass,  you  will  say,  "They 
are  praying  to  God  for  us!"  (Pamela  Jcisses  her  parents.) 

DUPRE 

You  are  good  people,  and  to  think  that  such  as  you  have 
neither  title  nor  fortune !  And  if  you  are  pining  for  your 
country  home,  you  shall  return  there  and  live  there  in  happi- 
ness and  tranquillity,  and  I  will  make  provision  for  you. 

GIRAUD  AND  MME.  GIRADD 
Oh !  our  gratitude — 

DUPRE 

That  word  ^igain — I  should  like  to  cut  it  out  of  the  dic- 
tionary ! — Meanwhile  I  intend  to  take  you  both  with  me  into 
the  country,  so  set  about  packing  up. 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  417 

GiRAUD 

Sir!— 

DOPBlS 

Well,  what  is  it? 

GIRAUD 

Poor  Joseph  Binet  is  also  in  danger.  He  does  not  know 
that  we  are  all  here.  But  three  days  ago,  he  came  to  see  your 
servant  and  seemed  scared  almost  to  death,  and  he  is  hidden 
here,  as  in  a  sanctuary,  up  in  the  attic. 

DUPRE 
Call  him  down-stairs. 

GIRAUD 

He  will  not  come,  sir;  he  is  too  much  afraid  of  heing 
arrested — they  pass  him  up  food  through  a  hole  in  the  ceil- 
ing! 

DUPRE 

He  will  soon  be  at  liberty,  I  hope.  I  am  expecting  a  letter 
which  will  relieve  all  your  minds. 

GIRAUD 
At  once? 

DUPRE 
I  expect  the  letter  this  evening. 

GIRAUD  (to  his  wife} 

I  am  going  to  make  my  way  cautiously  to  the  house. 
(Madame  Giraud  accompanies  him,  and  gives  him  advice. 
Pamela  rises  to  follow  her.) 

DUPRE  (restraining  Pamela) 
You  are  not  in  love  with  this  Binet,  are  you  ? 

PAMELA 

Oh,  never! 


418  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

DUPRE 

And  the  other? 

PAMELA    (struggling  with  her  feelings) 
I  shall  love  none  but  you  !    (She  starts  to  leave  the  room, 
noise  is  heard  in  the  antechamber.    Jules  appears.) 


SCENE  SECOND. 
PAMELA,  DUPRE  AND  JULES. 

JULES  (to  the  servants) 

Let  me  pass  in !  I  tell  you — I  must  speak  to  him  at  once ! 
(Noticing  Dupre)  Ah,  sir!  What  has  become  of  Pamela? 
Is  she  at  liberty?  Is  she  safe? 

PAMELA  (stopping  at  the  door) 
Jules! 

JULES 
Good  heavens !  you  here  ? — 

DUPRE 
And  you,  sir,  I  thought  you  were  at  Brussels? 

JULES 

Yes,  they  sent  me  away  against  my  will,  and  I  yielded  to 
them !  Reared  as  I  have  been  in  obedience,  I  still  tremble 
before  my  family !  But  I  carried  away  with  me  the  memory 
of  what  I  had  left  behind !  It  has  taken  me  six  months  to 
realize  the  situation,  and  I  now  acknowledge  that  I  risked  my 
life  in  order  to  obtain  the  hand  of  Mile,  de  Verby,  that  I 
might  gratify  the  ambition  of  my  family,  or,  if  you  like,  might 
hnmor  my  own  vanity.  I  hoped  some  day  to  be  a  man  of  title, 
I,  the  son  of  a  rich  stock-broker ! — Then  I  met  Pamela,  and  I 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  419 

fell  in  love  with  her ! — The  rest  you  know ! — What  was  a  mere 
sentiment  has  now  become  a  duty,  and  every  hour  that  has 
kept  me  from  her  I  have  felt  that  obedience  to  my  family  was 
rank  cowardice ;  and  while  they  believe  I  am  far  away,  I  have 
returned !  You  told  me  she  had  been  arrested — and  to  think 
that  I  should  run  away  (to  both  of  them)  without  coming  to 
see  you,  who  had  been  my  deliverer,  and  will  be  hers  also. 

DUPRE  (looking  at  them) 
Good !  very  good !    He  is  an  honorable  fellow  after  all. 

PAMELA  (aside,  drying  her  tears) 
Thank  God  for  that ! 

DUPRE 
What  do  you  expect  to  do  ?    What  are  your  plnns  ? 

JULES 

What  are  my  plans?  To  unite  my  fortune  with  hers.  If 
necessary,  to  forfeit  everything  for  her,  and  under  God's  pro- 
tection to  say  to  her,  "Pamela,  will  you  be  mine  ?" 

DUPRE 

The  deuce  you  say !  But  there  is  a  slight  difficulty  in  the 
way — for  I  am  going  to  marry  her  myself ! 

JULES  (in  great  astonishment) 
You? 

DUPRE 

Yes,  I !  (Pamela  casts  down  her  eyes.)  I  have  no  family 
to  oppose  my  wishes. 

JULES 
I  will  win  over  mine. 

DUPRE 

They  will  send  you  off  to  Brussels  again. 


420  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

JULES 

I  must  run  and  find  my  mother ;  my  courage  has  returned ! 
Were  I  to  forfeit  the  favor  of  my  father,  were  my  aunt  to  cut 
me  off  with  a  sou,  1  would  stand  my  ground.  If  I  did  other- 
wise, I  should  be  destitute  of  self-respect,  I  should  prove  my- 
self a  soulless  coward. — After  that,  is  there  any  hope  for  me  ? 

DUPRE 
Do  you  ask  such  a  question  of  me  ? 

JULES 
Pamela,  answer,  I  implore  you ! 

PAMELA  (to  Dupre) 
I  have  given  you  my  word,  sir. 


SCENE  THIRD. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  A  SERVANT.     (The  latter  hands  a 
card  to  Dupre.) 

DUPRE  (looking  at  the  card  with  great  surprise} 
How  is  this?     (To  Jules)    Do  you  know  where  M.  de 
Verby  is  ? 

JULES 

He  is  in  Normandy,  staying  with  his  brother,  Comte  de 
Verby. 

DUPRE  (looTcing  at  the  card) 
Very  good.    Now  you  had  better  go  and  find  your  mother. 

JULES 
But  you  promise  me? 


PAMELA  G1RAUD  421 

DUPRE 
I  promise  nothing. 

JULES 

Good-bye,  Pamela!     (Aside,  as  he  goes  out)     I  will  come 
back  soon. 

DUPRE  (turning  towards  Pamela,  after  the  departure  of 
Jules) 

Must  he  come  back  again  ? 

PAMELA  (with  deep  emotion,  throwing  herself  into  his  arms) 
Ah!  sir!  (Exit.) 

DUPRE  (looking  after  her  and  wiping  away  a  tear) 

Gratitude,  forsooth  !  (Opening  a  narrow  secret  door.)   Come 
in,  general ;  come  in ! 


SCENE  FOURTH. 
DUPRE  AND  DE  VERBY. 

DUPRE 

Strange,  sir,  to  find  you  here,  when  every  one  believes  that 
you  are  fifty  leagues  away  from  Paris. 

DE  VERBY 

I  arrived  this  morning. 

DUPRE 
Without  doubt  some  powerful  motive  brought  you  here? 

DE  VERBY 

No  selfish  motive ;  but  I  couldn't  remain  wholly  indifferent 
to  the  affairs  of  others !    You  may  prove  useful  to  me. 


422  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

DUPRE 

I  shall  be  only  too  happy  to  have  an  opportunity  of  serving 
you. 

DE  VEEBY 

M.  Dupre,  the  circumstances  under  which  we  ha\e  become 
acquainted  have  put  me  in  a  position  fully  to  appreciate  your 
value.  You  occupy  the  first  place  among  the  men  whose  talents 
and  character  claim  my  admiration. 

DUPRE 

Ah !  sir,  you  compel  me  to  say  that  you,  a  veteran  of  the 
Empire,  have  always  seemed  to  me  by  your  loyalty  and  your 
independence  to  be  a  fitting  representative  of  that  glorious 
epoch.  (Aside)  I  hope  I  have  paid  him  back  in  full. 

DE  VERBY 
I  suppose  I  may  rely  upon  you  for  assistance? 

DUPRE 
Certainly. 

DE  VERBY 

I  would  like  to  ask  for  some  information  with  regard  to 
young  Pamela  Giraud. 

DUPRE 
I  felt  sure  that  was  your  object. 

DE  VERBY 
The  Rousseau  family  have  behaved  abominably. 

DUPRE 
Would  you  have  behaved  any  better? 

DE  VERBY 

I  intend  to  Espouse  her  cause !  Since  her  arrest  as  a  per- 
jurer, how  do  things  go  on  ? 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  423 

DUPRE 

That  can  have  very  little  interest  for  you. 

DE  VERBY 
That  may  be  true,  but — 

DUPRE  (aside) 

He  is  trying  to  make  me  talk  in  order  to  find  out  whether 
he  is  likely  to  be  compromised  in  the  case.  (Aloud)  General 
de  Verby,  there  are  some  men  who  cannot  be  seen  through, 
either  in  their  plans  or  in  their  thoughts;  the  actions  and 
events  which  they  give  rise  to  alone  reveal  and  explain  such 
men.  These  are  the  strong  men.  I  humbly  beg  that  you  will 
pardon  my  frankness  when  I  say  that  I  don't  look  upon  you 
as  being  one  of  them. 

DE  VERBY 

Sir !  what  language  to  use  to  me !    You  are  a  singular  man ! 

DUPRE 

More  than  that! — I  believe  that  I  am  an  original  man! 
Listen  to  me.  You  throw  out  hints  to  me,  and  you  think  that 
as  a  future  ambassador  you  can  try  on  me  your  diplomatic 
methods ;  but  you  have  chosen  the  wrong  man  and  I  am  going 
to  tell  you  something,  which  you  will  take  no  pleasure  in 
learning.  You  are  ambitious,  but  you  are  also  prudent,  and 
you  have  taken  the  lead  in  a  certain  conspiracy.  The  plot 
failed,  and  without  worrying  yourself  about  those  whom  you 
had  pushed  to  the  front,  and  who  eagerly  strove  for  success, 
you  have  yourself  sneaked  out  of  the  way.  As  a  political 
renegade  you  have  proved  your  independence  by  burning 
incense  to  the  new  dynasty!  And  you  expect  as  a  reward  to 
be  made  ambassador  to  Turin !  In  a  month's  time  you  will 
receive  your  credentials;  meanwhile  Pamela  is  arrested,  you 
have  been  seen  at  her  house,  you  may  possibly  be  compromised 
by  her  trial  for  perjury!  Then  you  rush  to  me,  trembling 
with  the  fear  of  being  unmasked,  of  losing  the  promotion 


424  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

which  has  caused  you  so  many  efforts  to  attain!  You  come 
to  me  with  an  air  of  obsequiousness,  and  with  the  word  of 
flattery,  expecting  to  make  me  your  dupe,  and  thus  to  show 
your  sincerity !  Well,  you  have  sufficient  reason  for  alarm — 
Pamela  is  in  the  hands  of  justice,  and  she  has  told  all. 

DE  VERBY 
What  then  is  to  be  done  ? 

DUPRE 

I  have  one  suggestion  to  make:  Write  to  Jules  that  you 
release  him  from  his  engagement,  and  that  Mile,  de  Verby 
withdraws  her  promise  to  be  his  wife. 

DE  VERBY 
Is  that  your  advice  ? 

DUPRE 

You  find  that  the  Eousseau  family  have  behaved  abomin- 
ably, and  you  ought  to  despise  them ! 

DE  VERBY 
But  you  know— engagements  of  this  sort — 

DUPRE 

111  tell  you  what  I  know;  I  know  that  your  private  for- 
tune is  not  equal  to  the  position  which  you  aspire  to.  Mme. 
du  Brocard,  whose  wealth  is  equal  to  her  pride,  ought  to  come 
to  your  assistance,  if  this  alliance — 

DE  VERBY 
Sir !  How  dare  you  to  affront  my  dignity  in  this  way  ? 

DUPRE 

Whether  what  I  say  be  true  or  false,  do  what  I  tell  you! 
If  you  agree,  I  will  endeavor  to  save  you  from  being  com- 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  425 

promised.     But  write — or  get  out  of  the  .difficulty  the  best 
way  you  can.    But  stay,  I  hear  some  clients  coming. 

DE  VERBY 

I  don't  want  to  see  anybody !  Everybody,  even  the  Eousseau 
family,  believes  that  I  have  left  the  city. 

A  SERVANT  (announcing  a  visitor) 
Madame  du  Brocard ! 

DE  VERBY 
Oh,  heavens !     (Rushes  into  an  office  on  the  right.) 


SCENE  FIFTH. 

DUPRE  AND  MADAME  DU  BROCARD.     (She  enters,  her  face 
idden  by  a  heavy  black  veil  which  she  cautiously  raises.) 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 

I  have  been  here  several  times  without  being  lucky  enough 
to  find  you  in.    We  are  quite  alone  here? 

DUPRE  (smiling) 
Quite  alone! 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
And  so  this  harrowing  affair  has  broken  out  afresh? 

DUPRE 
It  has,  unhappily! 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 

That  wretched  young  man !     If  I  had  not  superintended 
his  education,  I  would  disinherit  him !    My  life  at  present  is 


426  PAMELA  G1RAUD 

not  worth  living.-  Is  it  possible  that  I,  whose  conduct  and 
principles  have  won  the  esteem  of  all,  should  be  involved  in 
all  this  trouble  ?  And  yet  on  this  occasion  the  only  thing  that 
gives  me  any  anxiety  is  my  conduct  towards  the  Girauds! 

DUPRE 

I  can  well  believe  it,  for  it  was  you  who  led  astray  and 
who  induced  Pamela  to  act  as  she  did ! 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 

I  feel,  sir,  that  it  is  always  a  mistake  to  associate  with 
people  of  a  certain  class — say,  with  a  Bonapartist — a  man 
who  has  neither  conscience  nor  heart.  (Verby,  who  has  been 
listening ,  shrinks  back  with  a  gesture  of  rage.) 

DUPRE 
You  always  seemed  to  have  such  a  high  opinion  of  him! 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 

His  family  was  highly  thought  of !  And  the  prospect  of 
this  brilliant  marriage ! — I  always  dreamt  of  a  distinguished 
future  for  my  nephew. 

DUPRE 

But  you  are  forgetting  the  general's  affection  for  you,  his 
unselfishness. 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 

His  affection !  His  unselfishness !  The  general  does  not 
possess  a  sou,  and  I  had  promised  him  a  hundred  thousand 
francs,  when  once  the  marriage  contract  was  signed. 

DUPRE  (coughs  loudly,  as  he  turns  in  the  direction  of 

De  Verby) 
.     Oh !  indeed ! 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
I  am  come  to  you  secretly,  and  in  confidence,  in  spite  of  all 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  427 

that  has  been  said  by  this  M.  de  Verby,  who  avers  that  you  are 
a  half-rate  lawyer!  He  has  said  the  most  frightful  things 
about  you,  and  I  come  now  to  beg  that  you  will  extricate  me 
from  this  difficulty.  I  will  give  you  whatever  money  you 
demand. 

DUPRE 

What  I  wish  above  all  is  that  you  promise  to  let  your  nephew 
marry  whom  he  chooses,  and  give  him  the  fortune  you  had 
designed  for  him,  in  case  he  married  Mile,  de  Verby. 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
One  moment;  you  said,  whom  he  pleased? 

DUPRE 
Give  me  your  answer ! 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
But  I  ought  to  know. 

DUPRE 

Very  well  then,  you  must  extricate  yourself  without  my 
assistance. 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 

You  are  taking  advantage  of  my  situation !  Ah !  some  one 
is  coming ! 

DUPRE   (looking  towards  the  newcomers) 
It  is  some  of  your  own  family ! 

MME.  DU  BROCARD  (peering  cautiously) 
It  is  my  brother-in-law  Rousseau — What  is  he  up  to  now? 
He  swore  to  me  that  he  would  keep  quiet! 

DUPRE 

You  also  took  an  oath.  In  fact,  there  has  been  a  great  deal 
of  swearing  in  your  family  lately. 


428  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

MME.  DD  BROCARD 

I  hope  I  shall  be  able  to  hear  what  he  has  to  say !  (Rous- 
seau appears  with  his  wife.  Mme.  du  Brocard  conceals  her- 
self behind  the  curtain.) 

DUPRE    (looking  at  her) 

Very  good !  But  if  these  two  want  to  hide  themselves,  I 
don't  know  where  I  shall  put  them! 


SCENE  SIXTH. 
DUPRE,  ROUSSEAU  AND  MADAME  ROUSSEAU. 

ROUSSEAU 

Sir,  we  are  at  our  wits'  end — Madame  du  Brocard,  my  sis- 
ter-in-law, came  this  morning  and  told  us  all  sorts  of  stories. 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 
Sir,  I  am  in  the  most  serious  alarm. 

DUPRE  (offering  her  a  seat) 
Pray  be  seated,  madame. 

ROUSSEAU 
If  all  she  says  be  true,  my  son  is  still  in  difficulties. 

DUPRE 
I  pity  you ;  I  do  indeed ! 

ROUSSEAU 

It  seems  as  if  I  should  never  get  free !  This  unfortunate 
affair  has  lasted  for  six  months,  and  it  seems  to  have  cut  ten 
years  off  my  life.  I  have  been  forced  to  neglect  the  most 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  429 

magnificent  speculations,  financial  combinations  of  absolute 
certitude,  and  to  let  them  pass  into  the  hands  of  others.  And 
then  came  the  trial !  But  when  I  thought  the  affair  was  all 
over,  I  have  been  compelled  once  more  to  leave  my  business, 
and  to  spend  my  precious  time  in  these  interviews  and  solicita- 
tions. 

DUPRE 
I  pity  you ;  I  do  indeed ! 

MME.  EOUSSEAD 
Meanwhile  it  is  impossible  for  me — 

EOUSSEAD 

It  is  all  your  fault,  and  that  of  your  family.  Mme.  du  Bro- 
card,  who  at  first  used  always  to  call  me  "my  dear  Rousseau" 
^—because  I  had  a  few  hundred  thousand  crowns — 

DUPRE 
Such  a  sum  is  a  fine  varnish  for  a  man. 

ROUSSEAU 

From  pride  and  ambition,  she  threw  herself  at  the  head  of 
M.  de  Verby.  (De  Verby  and  Mme.  du  Brocard  listen.) 
Pretty  couple  they  are !  Two  charming  characters,  one  a  mili- 
tary lobbyist,  and  the  other  an  old  hypocritical  devotee! 
(The  two  withdraw  their  heads  quickly.) 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 
Sir,  she  is  my  sister! 

DUPRE 

Really,  you  are  going  too  far! 

ROUSSEAU 

You  do  not  know  them !  Sir,  T  address  you  once  again, 
there  is  sure  to  be  a  new  trial.  What  has  become  of  that  girl  ? 


430  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

DUPRE . 

That  girl  is  to  be  my  wife,  sir. 

EOUSSEAU   AND    MME.    KOUSSEATJ 

Your  wife! 

DE  VERBY  AND  MME.  DD  BROCARD 
His  wife ! 

DUPRE 

Yes,  I  shall  marry  her  as  soon  as  she  regains  her  liberty — 
that  is,  provided  she  doesn't  become  the  wife  of  your  son ! 

ROUSSEAU 
The  wife  of  my  son ! — 

MME.  ROUSSEAU 
What  did  he  say? 

DUPRE 

What  is  the  matter  ?  Does  that  astonish  you  ?  You're  bound 
to  entertain  this  proposal — and  I  demand  that  you  do  so. 

ROUSSEAU  (ironically) 

Ah !  M.  Dupre,  I  don't  care  a  brass  button  about  my  son's 
union  with  Mile,  de  Verby — the  niece  of  a  disreputable  man ! 
It  was  that  fool  of  a  Madame  du  Brocard  who  tried  to  bring 
about  this  grand  match.  But  to  come  down  to  a  daughter  of 
a  porter — 

DUPRE 
Her  father  is  no  longer  that,  sir ! 

ROUSSEAU 
What  do  you  mean? 

DUPRE 

He  lost  his  place  through  your  son,  and  he  intends  return- 
ing to  the  country,  to  live  on  the  money  (Rousseau  listens 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  431 

attentively) — on  the  money  which  you  have  promised  to  give 
him. 

KOUSSEAU 
Ah !  you  are  joking ! 

DUPRE 

On  the  contrary,  I  am  quite  serious.  Your  son  will  marry 
their  daughter — and  you  will  provide  a  pension  for  the  old 
people. 

EOUSSEAU 

Sir— 


SCENE  SEVENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  JOSEPH  (coming  in  pale  and  faint). 

JOSEPH 
M.  Dupre,  M.  Dupre,  save  me ! 

ALL  THREE 
What  has  happened?    What  is  the  matter? 

JOSEPH 
Soldiers  !    Mounted  soldiers  are  coming  to  arrest  me ! 

DDPRE 

Hold  your  tongue !  Hold  your  tongue !  (Everybody  seems 
alarmed.  Dupre  looks  with  anxiety  towards  the  room  in 
which  is  Pamela.  To  Joseph)  To  arrest  you? 

JOSEPH 

I  saw  one  of  them.  Don't  you  hear  him?  He  is  coming 
up-stairs.  Hide  me!  (He  tries  to  hide  himself  in  the  small 
room,  from  which  De  Verby  comes  out  with  a  cry.)  Ah !  (He 


432  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

gets  behind  the  curtain  and  Mme.  du  Brocard  rushes  furth 
with  a  shriek.)     Oh,  heavens! — 

MME.  EOUSSEAU 
My  sister ! 

EOUSSEAU 
M.  de  Verby !     (The  door  opens.) 

JOSEPH  (fatting  exhausted  over  a  chair) 
We  are  all  nabbed ! 

THE  SERVANT  (entering,  to  Dupre) 
A  message  from  the  Keeper  of  the  Seals. 

JOSEPH 
The  Keeper  of  the  Seals !  That  must  be  about  me ! 

DUPRE    (advancing  with  a  serious  face  and  addressing  the 
four  others) 

I  shall  now  leave  you  all  four  face  to  face — you  whose 
mutual  love  and  esteem  is  so  great.  Ponder  well  all  I  have 
said  to  you;  she  who  sacrificed  all  for  you,  has  been  despised 
and  humiliated,  both  for  you  and  by  you. — It  is  yours  to 
make  full  reparation  to  her — to  make  it  to-day — this  very 
instant — in  this  very  room.  And  then,  we  can  take  measures 
by  which  all  can  obtain  deliverance,  if  indeed  you  are  worth 
the  trouble  it  will  cost  me.  (Exit  Dupre.) 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  433 

SCENE  EIGHTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS  (with    the  exception  of  Dupre.     They 
stand  looking  awkwardly  at  each 
other  for  a  moment). 

JOSEPH  (going  up  to  them) 

We  are  a  nice  lot  of  people!  (To  De  Verby)  I  should 
like  to  know  when  we  are  put  in  prison,  whether  you  are  going 
to  look  out  for  me,  for  my  pocket  is  as  light  as  my  heart 
is  heavy.  (De  Verby  turns  his  back  on  him.  To  Rousseau) 
You  know  well  enough  that  I  was  promised  something  for 
my  services.  (Rousseau  withdraws  from  him  without  answer- 
ing. To  Mme.  du  Brocard)  Tell  me  now,  wasn't  something 
promised  to  me  ? 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
We  will  see  about  that  later. 

MME.  EOUSSEAU 

But  what  do  you  fear  ?  What  are  you  doing  in  this  place  ? 
Were  you  pursued  by  any  one  ? 

JOSEPH 

Not  at  all.  I  have  been  four  days  in  this  house,  hidden 
like  so  much  vermin  in  the  garret.  I  came  here  because  the 
old  Grraud  people  were  not  to  be  found  in  their  quarters. 
They  have  been  carried  off  somewhere.  Pamela  has  also  dis- 
appeared— she  is  doubtless  in  hiding.  I  had  no  particular 
desire  to  run  any  risk ;  I  admit  that  I  lied  to  the  judge.  If  I 
am  condemned  I  will  obtain  my  freedom  by  making  a  few 
startling  revelations ;  I  will  tell  on  everybody  ! — 

DE  VERBY  (with  energy) 
It  must  be  done !     (Sits  at  the  table  and  writes.) 


434  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

• 

MME.  DU  BROCABD 

0  Jules,  Jules!  wretched  child,  you  are  the  cause  of  all 
this ! 

MME.  EOUSSEAU  (to  her  husband) 

You  see,  this  lawyer  has  got  you  all  in  his  power !  You 
will  have  to  agree  to  his  terms.  (De  Verby  rises  from  the 
table.  Mme.  du  Brocard  takes  his  place  and  begins  to  write.) 

MME.  EOUSSEAU  (to  her  husband) 
My  dear,  I  implore  you ! 

EOUSSEAU  (with  decision) 

By  heavens !  I  shall  promise  to  this  devil  of  a  lawyer  all 
that  he  asks  of  me;  but  Jules  is  at  Brussels. 

( The  door  opens,  Joseph  cries  out  in  alarm,  but  it  is  Dupre 
who  enters.) 


SCENE  NINTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  DUPRE. 

DUPRE 

How  is  this  ?  (Mme.  du  Brocard  hands  him  the  letter  she 
has  been  writing;  De  Verby  hands  him  his;  and  it  is  passed 
over  to  Rousseau  who  reads  it  with  astonishment;  De  Verby 
casts  a  furious  glance  at  Dupre  and  the  Rousseau  family,  and 
dashes  out  of  the  room.  To  Rousseau)  And  what  decision 
have  you  made,  sir? 

EOUSSEAU 
I  shall  let  my  son  do  exactly  what  he  wants  in  the  matter. 

MME.  EOUSSEAU 
Dear  husband ! 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  435 

DUPEE  (aside) 
He  thinks  that  Jules  is  out  of  town. 

KOUSSEAU 
At  present  Jules  is  at  Brussels,  and  he  must  return  at  once. 

DUPBE 

That  is  perfectly  fair  !  It  is  quite  clear  that  I  can't  demand 
anything  at  this  moment  of  you,  so  long  as  he  is  away ;  to  do 
so  would  be  absurd. 

EOUSSEAU 
Certainly  !    We  can  settle  matters  later. 

DUPEE 

Yes,  as  soon  as  he  returns. 

EOUSSEAU 

Oh!  as  soon  as  he  returns.  (Aside)  I  will  take  pretty 
good  care  that  he  remains  where  he  is. 

DUPEE  (going  towards  the  door  on  the  left) 
Come  in,  young  man,  and  thank  your  family,  who  have 
given  their  full  consent  to  your  marriage. 

MME.  EOUSSEAU 
It  is  Jules ! 

MME.  DU  BEOCAED 
It  is  my  nephew ! 

JULES 
Can  it  be  possible? 

DUPBE  (darting  towards  another  room) 
And  you,  Pamela,  my  child,  my  daughter ! — embrace  your 
husband  !    (Jnles  rushes  towards  her.) 


436  PAMELA  GIRAUD 

MME.  DU  BROCAED  (to  Rousseau) 
How  has  all  this  come  about  ? 

DUPRE 

Pamela  never  was  arrested.  There  is  no  likelihood  of  her 
ever  being.  I  haven't  a  title  of  nobility.  I  am  not  the  brother 
of  a  peer  of  France,  but  still  I  have  some  influence.  The  self- 
sacrifice  of  this  poor  girl  has  aroused  the  sympathy  of  the  gov- 
ernment— the  indictment  has  been  quashed.  The  Keeper  of 
the  Seals  has  sent  me  word  of  this  by  an  orderly  on  horseback, 
whom  this  simpleton  took  for  a  regiment  of  soldiers  in  pursuit 
of  him. 

JOSEPH 

It  is  very  hard  to  see  plainly  through  a  garret  window. 

MME.  DU  BROCARD 
Sir,  you  have  caught  us  by  surprise ;  I  take  back  my  promise. 

DUPRE 

But  I  still  have  possession  of  your  letter.  Do  you  wish  to 
have  a  lawsuit  about  it  ?  Very  well,  I  will  appear  against  you 
on  the  other  side. 

GIRAUD  AND  MME.  GIRAUD  (entering  and  approaching  Dupre) 

M.  Dupr6! 

DUPRE 

Are  you  satisfied  with  me?  (In  the  meantime  Jules  and 
Mme.  Rousseau  have  been  imploring  Rousseau  to  yield  his 
consent;  he  hesitates,  but  at  last  Icisses  Pamela  on  the  fore- 
head. Dupre  approaches  Rousseau  and,  seeing  him  kiss 
Pamela,  wrings  his  hand.}  You  have  done  well,  sir.  (Then 
turning  to  Jules}  Will  you  make  her  happy? 

JULES 

Ah,  my  friend,  you  need  not  ask !  (Pamela  Icisses  the  hand 
of  Dupre.) 


PAMELA  GIRAUD  437 

JOSEPH  (to  Dupre) 

What  a  fool  I  have  been !  Well,  he  is  going  to  marry  her, 
and  I  am  actually  glad  for  them !  But  am  I  not  to  get  some- 
thing out  of  all  this  ? 

DUPRE 

Certainly,  you  shall  have  all  the  fees  that  come  to  me  from 
the  lawsuit. 

JOSEPH 
You  may  count  on  my  gratitude. 

DUPBE 
That  will  be  receipt  in  full  I 

Final  Curtain. 


THE  STEPMOTHER 
A  DRAMA  IN  FIVE  ACTS 


Presented  for  the  First  Time  in  Paris,  at  the  ThSatre-Historique, 
May  25, 1848. 


INTRODUCTION 

La  Mardtre  (The  Stepmother)  is  characterized  as  an 
"intimate"  drama  in  five  acts  and  eight  tableaux.  It  was 
first  presented  at  the  Theatre-Historique,  Paris,  May  25, 
1848.  Its  publication,  by  Michel  Levy  in  the  same  year,  was 
in  brochure  form.  The  time  is  just  a  little  later  than  that 
of  Pamela  Giraud,  and  one  similar  motif  is  found  in  the 
Napoleonic  influence  still  at  work  for  years  after  Waterloo. 
Though  this  influence  is  apparently  far  beneath  the  surface, 
and  does  not  here  manifest  itself  in  open  plottings,  it  is  never- 
theless vital  enough  to  destroy  the  happiness  of  a  home — 
when  mixed  in  the  mortar  of  a  woman's  jealousy.  The  action 
is  confined  to  a  single  chateau  in  Normandy.  A  considerable 
psychological  element  is  introduced.  The  play  is  a  genuine 
tragedy,  built  upon  tense,  striking  lines.  It  is  strong  and 
modern  enough  to  be  suitable,  with  some  changes,  for  our 
present  day  stage.  The  day  of  the  playwright's  immaturity 
(noticed  in  the  three  preceding  plays)  is  past.  With  this, 
as  with  all  of  Balzac's  work,  he  improved  by  slow,  laborious 
plodding,  gaining  experience  from  repeated  efforts  until  suc- 
cess was  attained. 

In  his  dramas  he  was  not  to  succeed  at  the  first  trial,  nor 
the  second,  nor  the  third.  But  here  at  the  fourth  he  has  nearly 
grasped  the  secret  of  a  successful  play.  While  at  the  fifth — 
Mercadet — we  are  quite  ready  to  cry  "Bravo !"  Who  knows, 
if  he  had  lived  longer  (these  plays  were  written  in  the  last 
years  of  their  author's  life),  to  what  dramatic  heights  Balzac 
might  have  attained! 

(v) 


vi  INTRODUCTION 

To  Mercadet  then  we  turn  for  the  most  striking  example 
of  the  playwright's  powers.  This  first  appeared  as  Le  Faiseur 
(The  Speculator),  being  originally  written  in  1838-40.  Jus- 
tice compels  us  to  state,  however,  that  another  hand  is  present 
in  the  perfected  play.  In  the  original  it  was  a  comedy  in  five 
acts;  but  this  was  revamped  and  reduced  to  three  acts  by 
M.  d'Ennery,  before  its  presentation  at  the  Gymnase  Theatre, 
August  24,  1851.  It  was  then  re-christened  Mercadet,  and 
took  its  place  as  a  12mo  brochure  in  the  "Theatrical  Library" 
in  the  same  year.  The  original  five-act  version  was  first 
published  as  Mercadet,  in  Le  Pays,  August  28,  1851  (prob- 
ably called  forth  by  the  presentation  of  the  play  four  days 
earlier),  and  then  appeared  in  book  form,  as  Le  Faiseur, 
from  the  press  of  Cadot,  in  1853.  It  is  of  interest  to  note 
that  the  play  was  not  presented  till  over  a  year  subsequent 
to  Balzac's  death.  The  presented  version  in  three  acts  has 
generally  been  regarded  as  the  more  acceptable,  M.  de  Loven- 
joul,  the  Balzacian  commentator,  recognizing  its  superior 
claims.  It  is  the  form  now  included  in  current  French 
editions,  and  the  one  followed  in  the  present  volume. 

Although  Mercadet,  like  the  others,  excited  the  ridicule  of 
supercilious  critics,  it  has  proven  superior  to  them  and  to 
time.  As  early  as  the  year  1869,  the  Comedie  Franchise — 
the  standard  French  stage — added  Mercadet  to  its  repertory; 
and  more  than  one  company  in  other  theatres  have  scored 
success  in  its  representation.  The  play  contains  situations 
full  of  bubbling  humor  and  biting  satire.  Its  motif  is  not 
sentiment.  Instead,  it  inveighs  against  that  spirit  of  greed 
and  lust  for  gain  which  places  a  money  value  even  upon 
affection.  But  during  all  the  arraignment,  Balzac,  the  born 
speculator,  cannot  conceal  a  sympathy  for  the  wily  Mercadet 


INTRODUCTION  vii 

while  the  promoter's  manoeuvres  to  escape  his  creditors  must 
have  been  a  recollection  in  part  of  some  of  Balzac's  own 
pathetic  struggles.  For,  like  Dumas  pere,  Balzac  was  never 
able  to  square  the  debit  side  of  his  books — be  his  income 
never  so  great.  The  author  of  Cesar  Birotteau  and  Le  Maison 
Nucingen  here  allows  one  more  view  of  the  seamy  side  of 
business. 

Structurally,  too,  the  play  is  successful.  With  so  great  an 
element  of  chance  in  the  schemes  of  the  speculator,  it  would 
have  been  easy  to  transcend  the  limits  of  the  probable.  But 
the  author  is  careful  to  maintain  his  balances.  Situation 
succeeds  plot,  and  catastrophe  situation,  until  the  final  mo- 
ment when  the  absconding  partner  actually  arrives,  to  the 
astonishment  of  Mercadet  more  than  all  the  rest.  And  with 
Mercadet's  joyful  exclamation,  "I  am  a  creditor!"  the  play 
has  reached  its  logical  final  curtain. 

J.  WALKER  MCSPADDEN. 


PERSONS  OF  THE  PLAY 

COMTE  DE  GRANDCHAMP,  a  Napoleonic  General. 
EUGENE  KAMEL,  a  State's  Attorney. 
FERDINAND  MARCANDAL. 
DOCTOR  VERNON. 
GODARD. 

AN  INVESTIGATING  MAGISTRATE. 
FELIX,  servant  to  General  de  Grandchamp. 
CHAMPAGNE,  a  foreman. 
BAUDRILLON,  a  druggist. 

XAPOLEON,  son  to  General  de  Grandchamp  by  his  second 
wife. 

GERTRUDE,  second  wife  to  General  de  Grandchamp. 
PAULINE,  daughter  to  General  de  Grandchamp  by  his  first 
wife. 

MARGUERITE,  maid  to  Pauline. 

GENDARMES,  SHERIFF'S  OFFICER,  THE  CLERGY. 

SCENE:    Chateau  of  the    General   de   Grandchamp,  near 
Louviers,  Normandy.     TIME:  1829. 


THE  STEPMOTHER 


ACT  I. 


SCENE  FIRST. 

(A  richly  decorated  drawing-room;  on  the  walls  are  portraits 
of  Napoleon  I.  and  his  son.  The  entry  is  by  a  large" 
double  glass  door,  which  opens  on  a  roofed  veranda  and 
leads  by  a  short  stairway  to  a  park.  The  door  of  Paul- 
ine's apartments  are  on  the  right;  those  of  the  General 
and  his  wife  are  on  the  left.  On  the  left  side  of  the 
central  doorway  is  a  table,  and  on  the  right  is  a  cabinet. 
A  vase  full  of  flowers  stands  by  the  entrance  to  Pauline's 
room.  A  richly  carved  marble  mantel,  with  a  bronze 
clock  and  candelabras,  faces  these  apartments.  In  the 
front  of  the  stage  are  two  sofas,  one  on  the  left,  the  other 
on  the  right.  Gertrude  enters,  carrying  the  flowers 
which  she  has  just  plucked,  and  puts  them  in  the  vase.) 

GERTRUDE  AND  THE  GENERAL. 

GERTRUDE 

I  assure  you,  my  dear,  that  it  would  be  unwise  to  defer  any 
longer  giving  your  daughter  in  marriage.  She  is  now  twenty- 
two.  Pauline  has  been  very  slow  in  making  her  choice :  and, 
in  such  a  case,  it  is  the  duty  of  parents  to  see  that  their  chil- 
dren are  settled.  Moreover,  I  am  very  much  interested  in  her. 

THE  GENERAL 
In  what  way? 

(5) 


6  THE  STEPMOTHER 

GERTRUDE 

The  position  of  a  stepmother  is  always  open  to  suspicion; 
and  for  some  time  it  has  been  rumored  in  Louviers  that  I  am 
the  person  who  throws  obstacles  in  the  way  of  Pauline's 
marriage. 

THE  GENERAL 

That  is  merely  the  idle  gossip  of  little  towns.  I  should 
like  to  cut  out  some  of  those  silly  tongues.  And  to  think  that 
they  should  attack  you  of  all  people,  Gertrude,  who  have  been 
a  real  mother  to  Pauline — whom  you  have  educated  most 
excellently ! 

GERTRUDE 

It  is  the  way  of  the  world !  They  will  never  forgive  us  for 
living  so  close  to  the  town,  yet  never  entering  it.  The  society 
of  the  place  revenges  itself  upon  us  for  slighting  it.  Do  you 
think  that  our  happiness  can  escape  envy  ?  Even  our  doctor — 

THE  GENERAL 
Do  you  mean  Vernon  ? — 

GERTRUDE 

Yes,  Vernon  is  very  envious  of  you;  he  is  vexed  to  think 
that  he  has  never  been  able  to  inspire  any  woman  with  such 
affection  as  I  have  for  you.  Moreover,  he  pretends  that  I  am 
merely  playing  a  part, — as  if  I  could  do  it  for  twelve  years ! 
Rather  unlikely,  I  should  think. 

THE  GENERAL 

No  woman  could  keep  up  the  pretence  for  twelve  years 
without  being  found  out.  The  idea  is  absurd !  and  Vernon 
also  is — 

GERTRUDE 

Oh,  he  is  only  joking!  And  so,  as  I  told  you  before,  you 
had  better  see  Godard.  I  am  astonished  that  he  has  not  yet 


THE  STEPMOTHER  7 

arrived.  He  is  so  rich  that  it  would  be  folly  to  refuse  him. 
He  is  in  love  with  Pauline,  and  although  he  has  his  faults, 
and  is  somewhat  provincial,  he  is  quite  able  to  make  her  happy. 

THE  GENERAL 

I  have  left  Pauline  quite  free  to  choose  a  husband  for 
herself. 

GERTRUDE 

There  is  no  cause  for  anxiety.     A  girl  so  gentle,  so  well 
brought  up,  so  well  behaved,  is  sure  to  do  right. 

THE  GENERAL 
Gentle,  did  you  say  ?    She  is  headstrong,  like  her  father. 

GERTRUDE 

She,  headstrong?    And  you,  come  now,  do  you  not  always 
act  as  I  wish? 

THE  GENERAL 

You  are  an  angel,  and  always  wish  what  pleases  me!    By 
the  bye,  Vernon  takes  dinner  with  us  after  his  autopsy. 

GERTRUDE 
Was  it  necessary  to  tell  me  that? 

THE  GENERAL 

I  only  told  you,  in  order  that  he  might  hare  his  favorite 
wines. 

FELIX  (enters,  announcing) 
Monsieur  de  Eimonville! 

THE  GENERAL 
Ask  him  in. 


8  THE  STEPMOTHER 

GERTRUDE  (making  a  sign  to  Felix  to  arrange  the  vase  of 

flowers) 

I  will  go  to  Pauline's  room,  while  you  are  talking  business. 
I  should  like  to  superintend  the  arrangement  of  her  toilet. 
Young  people  do  not  always  understand  what  is  most  becom- 
ing to  them. 

THE  GENERAL 

She  has  no  expense  spared  her !  During  the  last  eighteen 
months  her  dress  has  cost  twice  as  much  as  it  previously  did ; 
after  all,  poor  girl,  it  is  the  only  amusement  she  has. 

GERTRUDE 

How  can  you  say  it  is  her  only  amusement  while  she  has 
the  privilege  of  living  with  us !  If  it  were  not  my  happy  lot 
to  be  your  wife,  I  should  like  to  be  your  daughter.  I  will 
never  leave  you,  not  I !  Did  you  say  for  the  last  eighteen 
months?  That  is  singular!  Well,  when  I  come  to  think  of 
it,  she  has  begun  to  care  more  about  laces,  jewels,  and  other 
pretty  things. 

THE  GENERAL 
She  is  quite  rich  enough  to  indulge  her  tastes. 

GERTRUDE 

And  she  is  now  of  age.  (Aside)  Her  fondness  of  dress  is 
the  smoke.  Can  there  be  any  fire?  (Exit.) 


SCENE  SECOND. 

THE  GENERAL  (alone) 

What  a  pearl  among  women !  Thus  I  am  made  happy  after 
twenty-six  campaigns,  a  dozen  wounds,  and  the  death  of  an 
angel,  whose  place  she  has  taken  in  my  heart;  truly  a  kind 


THE  STEPMOTHER 


Providence  owed  me  some  such  recompense  as  this,  if  it  were 
only  to  console  me  for  the  death  of  the  Emperor. 


SCENE  THIRD. 

GODAED   AND   THE    GENERAL. 

GODARD  (entering) 
Well,  General! 

THE  GENERAL 

Ah !  good  day,  Godard !  I  hope  you  are  come  to  spend  the 
day  with  us? 

GODARD 

I  thought  perhaps  I  might  spend  the  week,  General,  if  you 
should  regard  favorably  the  request  which  I  shall  venture  to 
make  of  you. 

THE  GENERAL 

Go  in  and  win !  I  know  what  request  you  mean — My  wife 
is  on  your  side.  Ah,  Godard,  you  have  attacked  the  fortress 
at  its  weak  point ! 

GODARD 

General,  you  are  an  old  soldier,  and  have  no  taste  for  mere 
phrases.  In  all  your  undertakings  you  go  straight  ahead,  as 
you  did  when  under  fire. 

THE  GENERAL 
Straight  and  facing  the  whole  battery. 

• 

GODARD 
That  suits  me  well,  for  I  am  rather  timid. 


10 


You!  I  owe  you,  my  dear  friend,  an  apology;  I  took  you 
for  a  man  who  was  too  well  aware  of  his  own  worth. 

GODAED 

You  took  me  to  be  conceited !  But  General,  as  a  matter  of 
fact,  I  intend  to  marry  because  I  don't  know  how  to  pay  my 
court  to  women. 

THE  GENERAL  (aside) 

What  a  civilian!  (Aloud)  How  is  this?  You  talk  like  an 
old  man,  and — that  is  not  the  way  to  win  my  daughter. 

GODARD 

Do  not  misunderstand  me.  I  have  a  warm  heart;  I  wish 
only  to  feel  sure  that  I  shall  be  accepted. 

THE  GENERAL 
That  means  that  you  don't  mind  attacking  unwalled  towns. 

GODARD 

That  is  not  it  at  all,  General.  You  quite  alarm  me  with 
your  banter. 

THE  GENERAL 
What  do  you  mean  then? 

GODARD 

I  understand  nothing  about  the  tricks  of  women.  I  know 
no  more  when  their  yes  means  no,  than  when  their  no  means 
yes ;  and  when  I  am  in  love,  I  wish  to  be  loved  in  return. 

• 

THE  GENERAL  (aside) 
With  such  ideas  as  those  he  has  precious  little  chance. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  11 

GODAED 

There  are  plenty  of  men  like  me,  men  who  are  supremely 
bored  by  this  little  warfare  of  manners  and  whims. 

THE  GENERAL 

But  there  is  something  also  delightful  in  it, — I  mean  in  the 
feminine  show  of  resistance,  which  gives  one  the  pleasure  of 
overcoming  it. 

GODARD 

Thank  you,  nothing  of  that  sort  for  me !  When  I  am  hun- 
gry, I 'do  not  wish  to  coquette  with  my  soup.  I  like  to  have 
things  decided,  and  care  very  little  how  the  decision  is  arrived 
at,  although  I  do  come  from  Normandy.  In  the  world,  I  see 
coxcombs  who  creep  into  the  favor  of  women  by  saying  to 
them,  "Ah !  madame,  what  a  pretty  frock  you  have  on.  Your 
taste  is  perfect.  You  are  the  only  person  who  could  wear 
that,"  and  starting  from  such  speeches  as  that  they  go  on 
and  on — and  gain  their  end.  They  are  wonderful  fellows, 
upon  my  honor !  I  don't  see  how  they  reach  success  by  such 
idle  talk.  I  should  beat  about  the  bush  through  all  eternity 
before  I  could  tell  a  pretty  woman  the  effect  she  has  made 
on  me. 

THE  GENERAL 
The  men  of  the  Empire  were  not  of  that  sort. 

GODARD 

It  is  on  account  of  that,  that  I  put  on  a  bold  face !  This 
boldness  when  backed  by  an  income  of  forty  thousand  francs 
is  accepted  without  protest,  and  wins  its  way  to  the  front. 
That  is  why  you  took  me  for  a  good  match.  So  long  as  there 
are  no  mortgages  on  the  rich  pasture  lands  of  the  Auge  Val- 
ley, so  long  as  one  possesses  a  fine  chateau,  well  furnished — for 
my  wife  need  bring  with  her  nothing  but  her  trousseau,  since 
she  will  find  there  even  the  cashmeres  and  laces  of  my  late 
mother — when  a  man  has  all  that,  General,  he  has  got  all  the 


12  THE  STEPMOTHER 

courage  he  need  have.    Besides,  I  am  now  Monsieur  de  Rimon- 
ville. 

THE  GENERAL 
No,  you're  only  Godard. 

GODAED 
Godard  de  Eimonville. 

THE  GENERAL 
Godard  for  short. 

* 
GODAED 

General,  you  are  trying  my  patience. 

THE  GENEEAL 

As  for  me,  it  would  try  my  patience  to  see  a  man,  even  if 
he  were  my  son-in-law,  deny  his  father;  and  your  father,  a 
right  honest  man,  used  himself  to  drive  his  beeves  from  Caen 
to  Poissy,  and  all  along  the  road  was  known  as  Godard — 
Father  Godard. 

GODAED 
He  was  highly  thought  of. 

THE  GENERAL 

He  was,  in  his  own  class.  But  I  see  what's  the  matter;  as 
his  cattle  provided  you  with  an  income  of  forty  thousand 
francs,  you  are  counting  upon  other  animals  to  give  you 
the  name  of  De  Eimonville. 

GODAED 

Now  come,  General,  you  had  better  consult  Mile.  Paul- 
ine; she  belongs  to  her  own  epoch — that  she  does.  We  are 
now  in  the  year  1829  and  Charles  X.  is  king.  She  would 
sooner  hear  the  valet  call  out,  as  she  left  a  ballroom,  "the 
carriage  of  Madame  de  Rimonville,"  than,  "the  carriage  of 
Madame  Godard." 


THE  STEPMOTHER  13 

THE  GENERAL 

Well,  if  such  silliness  as  this  pleases  my  daughter,  it  makes 
no  difference  to  me.  For,  after  all,  you  would  be  the  one  they'd 
poke  fun  at,  my  dear  Godard. 

GODARD 

De  Eimonville. 

THE  GENERAL 

Godard,  you  are  a  good  fellow,  you  are  young,  you  are  rich, 
you  say  that  you  won't  pay  your  court  to  women,  but  that  your 
wife  shall  be  the  queen  of  your  house.  Well,  if  you  gain  her 
consent  you  can  have  mine;  for  bear  in  mind,  Pauline  will 
only  marry  the  man  she  loves,  rich  or  poor.  There  may  be 
one  exception,  but  that  doesn't  concern  you.  I  would  prefer 
to  attend  her  funeral  rather  than  take  her  to  the  registry  office 
to  marry  a  man  who  was  a  son,  grandson,  brother,  nephew, 
cousin  or  connection  of  one  of  the  four  or  five  wretches  who 
betrayed — you  know  what  my  religion  is — 

GODARD 

Betrayed  the  Emperor.  Yes,  everyone  knows  your  creed, 
General. 

THE  GENERAL 

God,  first  of  all;  then  France  or  the  Emperor — It  is  all 
the  same  to  me.  Lastly,  my  wife  and  children !  Whoever 
meddles  with  my  gods  becomes  my  enemy;  I  would  kill  him 
like  a  hare,  remorselessly.  My  catechism  is  short,  but  it  is 
good.  Do  you  know  why,  in  the  year  1816,  after  their  cursed 
disbanding  of  the  army  of  the  Loire,  I  took  my  little  mother- 
less child  and  came  here,  I,  colonel  of  the  Young  Guard, 
wounded  at  Waterloo,  and  became  a  cloth  manufacturer  of 
Louviers  ? 

GODARD 

I  suppose  you  didn't  wish  to  hold  office  under  them. 


(4  THE  STEPMOTHER 

THE  GENERAL 

No,  because  I  did  not  wish  to  die  as  a  murderer  on  the 
scaffold. 

GODAED 
What  do  you  mean  ? 

THE  GENERAL 

If  I  had  met  one  of  those  traitors,  I  should  have  finished 
his  business  for  him.  Even  to-day,  after  some  fifteen  years, 
my  blood  boils  if  I  read  their  names  in  the  newspaper  or  any 
one  mentions  them  in  my  presence.  And  indeed,  if  I  should 
meet  one  of  them,  nothing  would  prevent  me  from  springing 
at  his  throat,  tearing  him  to  pieces,  strangling  him — 

GODARD 
You  would  do  right.     (Aside)    I  must  humor  him. 

THE  GENERAL 

Yes,  sir,  I  would  strangle  him!  And  if  my  son-in-law 
were  to  ill-treat  my  dear  child,  I  would  do  the  same  to  him. 

GODARD 
Ah! 

THE  GENERAL 

I  shouldn't  wish  him  to  be  altogether  under  her  thumb.  A 
man  ought  to  be  king  in  his  own  house,  as  I  am  here. 

GODARD  (aside) 
Poor  man !  How  he  deceives  himself ! 

THE  GENERAL 
Did  you  speak  ? 

GODARD 

I  said,  General,  that  your  threat  had  no  terrors  for  me! 
When  one  has  nothing  but  a  wife  to  love,  he  loves  her  well. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  15 

THE  GENERAL 

Quite  right,  my  dear  Godard.  And  now  with  regard  to 
the  marriage  settlement? 

GODARD 
Oh,  yes ! 

THE  GENERAL 
My  daughter's  portion  consists  of — 

GODARD 
Consists  of — 

THE  GENERAL 

It  comprises  her  mother's  fortune  and  the  inheritance  of 
her  uncle  Boncoeur.  It  will  be  undivided,  for  I  give  up  my 
rights  to  it.  This  will  amount  to  three  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  francs  and  a  year's  interest,  for  Pauline  is  twenty- 
two. 

GODARD 

This  will  make  up  three  hundred  and  sixty-seven  thousand 
five  hundred  francs. 

THE  GENERAL 
No. 

GODARD 
Why  not? 

THE  GENERAL 
r     It  will  be  more ! 

GODARD 
More  ? — 

THE  GENERAL 

Four  hundred  thousand  francs.  (Godard  seems  aston- 
ished.} I  make  up  the  difference !  But  when  I  die  there  will 
be  nothing  more  coming  to  her.  Do  you  understand  ? 


16  THE  STEPMOTHER 

GODARD 

I  do  not  understand. 

THE  GENERAL 
I  am  very  much  attached  to  little  Napoleon. 

GODARD 
You  mean  the  young  Duke  of  Reichstadt? 

THE  GENERAL 

No,  my  son  whom  they  would  enter  in  the  register  only 
under  the  name  of  Leon;  but  I  had  inscribed  here  (he  places 
his  hand  upon  his  heart)  the  name  of  Napoleon !  Do  you  see 
I  must  provide  for  him  and  his  mother. 

GODARD  (aside) 
Especially  for  his  mother;  she'll  take  care  of  that! 

THE  GENERAL 

What  are  you  saying?  If  you  don't  agree  with  me,  out 
with  it! 

GODARD  (aside) 

If  I  did  so,  we  should  find  ourselves  in  the  law  courts. 
(Aloud)  I  agree,  and  will  back  you  in  everything,  General. 

GENERAL 
Good  for  you !    And  I'll  tell  you  why,  my  dear  Godard. 

GODARD 
De  Rimonville. 

THE  GENERAL 

Godard,  I  prefer  Godard.  I'll  tell  you  why.  After  having 
commanded  the  grenadiers  of  the  Young  Guard,  I,  General 
Comte  de  Grandchamp,  now  weave  the  cloth  for  their  uni- 
forms. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  17 

GODARD 

That  is  very  commendable!  You  should  keep  on  storing 
up,  General,  so  that  your  widow  may  not  be  left  without  a 
fortune. 

THE  GENERAL 

She  is  an  angel,  Godard ! 

GODARD 
De  Rimonville. 

THE  GENERAL 

Godard,  she  is  an  angel,  to  whom  you  are  indebted  for  the 
education  of  your  intended,  whom  she  has  moulded  after  her 
own  image.  Pauline  is  a  pearl,  a  jewel;  she  has  never  left 
this  home;  she  is  as  pure  and  innocent  as  she  was  in  her 
cradle. 

GODARD 
General,  let  me  admit  that  Mile.  Pauline  is  beautiful ! 

THE  GENERAL 
I  am  quite  sure  of  that. 

GODARD 

She  is  very  beautiful;  but  there  are  numbers  of  beautiful 
girls  in  Normandy,  some  of  them  very  rich,  much  richer  than 
she  is.  Well  now,  you'll  scarcely  believe  how  the  mothers 
and  fathers  of  these  heiresses  run  after  me!  It  is  scarcely 
decent.  But  it  amuses  me  immensely ;  I  visit  their  chateaus ; 
they  overwhelm  me  with  attentions — 

THE  GENERAL 
I  said  he  was  conceited! 

GODARD 

Oh,  I  am  quite  aware  that  it  is  not  for  my  sake !  I  don't 
delude  myself  as  to  that ;  it  is  for  my  unmortgaged  pastures ; 


18  THE  STEPMOTHER 

for  my  savings,  and  for  my  habit  of  living  within  my  income. 
Do  you  know  what  it  is  that  makes  me  seek  an  alliance  with 
you  above  all  others  ? 

THE  GENERAL 
No. 

GODARD 

There  are  certain  rich  would-be  fathers-in-law  who  promise 
to  obtain  from  his  Majesty  a  decree,  by  which  I  shall  be 
created  Comte  de  Kimonville  and  Peer  of  France. 

THE  GENERAL 
You? 

GODARD 
Yes,  I. 

THE  GENERAL 

Have  you  won  any  battles  ?  Have  you  saved  your  country  ? 
Have  you  added  to  its  glory  ?  This  is  pitiful ! 

GODARD 

Pitiful?  (Aside)  What  shall  I  say?  (Aloud)  We  differ 
in  our  views  on  this  subject,  but  do  you  know  why  I  prefer 
your  adorable  Pauline  ? 

THE  GENERAL 
I  suppose  it  is  because  you  love  her. 

GODARD 

That  is  a  matter  of  course ;  but  it  is  also  on  account  of  the 
harmony,  the  tranquillity,  the  happiness  which  reign  here ! 
It  is  so  delightful  to  enter  a  family  of  high  honor,  of  pure, 
sincere,  patriarchal  manners!  I  am  a  man  of  observation. 

THE  GENERAL 
That  is  to  say,  you  are  inquisitive. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  19 

GODARD 

Curiosity,  General,  is  the  mother  of  observation.  I  know 
the  seamy  side  of  the  whole  department. 

THE  GENERAL 
Keally  ? 

GODARD 

Yes,  really !  In  all  the  families  of  which  I  have  spoken  to 
you,  I  have  seen  some  shabbiness  or  other.  The  public  sees 
the  decent  exterior  of  irreproachable  mothers  of  family,  of 
charming  young  persons,  of  good  fathers,  of  model  uncles; 
they  are  admitted  to  the  sacrament  without  confession,  they 
are  entrusted  with  the  investments  of  others.  But  just  learn 
their  inner  side,  and  it  is  enough  to  startle  a  police  magis- 
trate. 

THE  GENERAL 

Ah !  That  is  the  way  you  look  at  the  world,  is  it  ?  For  my 
part,  I  try  to  keep  up  the  illusions  in  which  I  have  lived.  To 
peer  into  the  inner  life  of  people  in  that  way  is  the  business 
of  priests  and  magistrates ;  I  have  no  love  for  the  black  robed 
gentlemen,  and  I  hope  to  die  without  ever  having  seen  them ! 
But  the  sentiment  which  you  express  with  regard  to  my  house 
is  more  pleasing  to  me  than  all  your  fortune.  Stick  to  that 
point,  and  you  will  win  my  esteem,  something  which  I  lightly 
bestow  on  no  one. 

GODARD 

Thank  you,  General.  (Aside)  I  have  won  over  the  father- 
in-law  at  any  rate. 


SCENE  FOURTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  PAULINE  AND  GERTRUDE. 

THE  GENERAL  (catchiny  sight  of  Pauline) 
Ah  !    Here  you  are,  darling. 


20  THE  STEPMOTHER 

GERTRUDE 
Doesn't  she  look  beautiful? 

GODARD 

Madame. 

GERTRUDE 

Forgive  me,  sir.  I  had  no  eyes  excepting  for  my  handi- 
work. 

GODARD 

Mademoiselle  is  radiant ! 

GERTRUDE 

We  have  some  people  to  dinner  to-day,  and  I  am  something 
more  than  a  stepmother  to  her ;  I  love  to  deck  her  out,  for  she 
is  to  me  like  my  own  daughter. 

GODARD  (aside) 
They  were  evidently  expecting  me ! 

GERTRUDE  (aside  to  Godard) 

I  am  going  to  leave  you  alone  with  her.  Now  is  the  time  for 
your  declaration.  (To  the  General)  My  dear,  let  us  go  out 
on  the  veranda  and  see  if  our  friend  the  doctor  is  coming. 

THE  GENERAL 

I  am  at  your  service,  as  usual.  (To  Pauline)  Good-bye, 
my  pet.  (To  Godard)  I  shall  see  you  later.  (Gertrude  and 
the  General  go  to  the  veranda,  but  Gertrude  keeps  her  eye  on 
Godard  and  Pauline.  Ferdinand  shows  his  head  at  the  door 
of  Pauline's  chamber,  but  at  a  quick  sign  from  her,  he  hur- 
riedly withdraws  it  unobserved.} 

GODARD  (at  the  front  of  the  stage] 
Let  me  see,  what  fine  and  dainty  speech  can  I  make  to  her  ? 


THE  STEPMOTHER  21 

Ah,  I  have  it !    (To  Pauline)    It  is  a  very  fine  day,  mademoi- 
selle. 

PAULINE 
It  certainly  is,  sir. 

GODABD 
Mademoiselle — 

PAULINE 
Sir? 

GODAED 

It  is  in  your  power  to  make  the  day  still  finer  for  me. 

PAULINE 
How  can  I  do  that? 

GODAED 

Don't  you  understand  me?  Has  not  Madame  de  Grand- 
champ  said  anything  to  you  about  the  subject  nearest  my 
heart  ? 

PAULINE 

While  she  was  helping  me  to  dress,  an  instant  ago,  she  said 
a  great  many  complimentary  things  about  you ! 

GODAED 
And  did  you  agree  with  her,  even  in  the  slightest  way  ? 

PAULINE 
Oh,  sir,  I  agreed  with  all  she  said ! 

GODABD  (seating  himself  on  a  cliair,  aside) 
So  far  so  good.      (Aloud)  Did  she  commit  a  pardonable 
breach  of  confidence  by  telling  you  that  I  was  so  much  in  love 
with  you  that  I  wished  to  see  you  the  mistress  of  Rimonville  ? 

PAULINE 

She  gave  me  to  understand  by  her  hints  that  you  were  com- 
ing with  the  intention  of  paying  me  a  very  great  compliment. 


22  THE  STEPMOTHER 

GODARD  (falling  on  his  knees) 

I  love  you  madly,  mademoiselle;  I  prefer  you  to  Mile,  de 
Blondville,  to  Mile,  de  Clairville,  to  Mile,  de  Verville,  to  Mile, 
de  Pont-de-Ville— to— 

PAULINE 

Oh,  that  is  sufficient,  sir,  you  throw  me  into  confusion  by 
these  proofs  of  a  love  which  is  quite  unexpected !  Your  vic- 
tims make  up  almost  a  hecatomb.  (Godard  rises.)  Your 
father  was  contented  with  taking  the  victims  to  market !  but 
you  immolate  them. 

GODARD  (aside) 

I  really  believe  she  is  making  fun  of  me.  But  wait  awhile ! 
wait  awhile! 

PAULINE 

I  think  at  least  that  we  ought  to  wait  awhile;  and  I  must 
confess — 

GODARD 

You  do  not  wish  to  marry  yet.  You  are  happy  with  your 
parents,  and  you  are  unwilling  to  leave  your  father. 

PAULINE 
That  is  it,  exactly. 

GODARD 

In  that  case,  there  are  some  mothers  who  would  agree  that 
their  daughter  was  too  young,  but  as  your  father  admits  that 
you  are  twenty-two  I  thought  that  you  might  possibly  have 
a  desire  to  be  settled  in  life. 

PAULINE 
Sir! 

GODARD 

You  are,  I  know,  quite  at  liberty  to  decide  both  your  own 
destiny  and  mine;  but  in  accordance  with  the  wishes  of  your 


THE  STEPMOTHER  23 

father  and  of  your  second  mother,  who  imagine  that  your 
heart  is  free,  may  I  be  permitted  still  to  have  hope  ? 

PAULINE 

Sir,  however  flattering  to  me  may  be  your  intention  in  thus 
seeking  me  out,  that  does  not  give  you  any  right  to  question 
me  so  closely. 

GODAED  (aside) 

Is  it  possible  I  have  a  rival?  (Aloud)  No  one,  mademoi- 
selle, gives  up  the  prospect  of  happiness  without  a  struggle. 

PAULINE 
Do  you  still  continue  in  this  strain  ?    I  must  leave  you,  sir. 

GODARD 

Thank  you,  mademoiselle.  ( Aside)  So  much  for  your  sar- 
casm ! 

PAULINE 

Come  sir,  you  are  rich,  and  nature  has  given  you  a  fine 
person;  you  are  so  well  educated  and  so  witty  that  you  will 
have  no  difficulty  in  finding  some  young  person  richer  and 
prettier  than  I  am. 

GODARD 
How  can  that  he  when  one  is  in  love? 

PAULINE 
Well  sir,  that  is  the  very  point. 

GODARD  (aside) 

She  is  in  love  with  some  one;  I  must  find  out  who  it  is. 
(Aloud)  Mademoiselle,  will  you  at  least  permit  me  to  feel 
that  I  am  not  in  disgrace  and  that  I  may  stay  here  a  few 
days? 


24  THE  STEPMOTHER 

PAULINE 
My  father  will  answer  you  on  that  score. 

GERTRUDE  (coming  forward  to  Godard) 
Well,  how  are  things  going? 

GODARD 

A  blunt  refusal,  without  even  a  hope  of  her  relenting;  her 
heart  is  evidently  already  occupied. 

GERTRUDE  (to  Godard) 

Her  heart  occupied?  This  child  has  been  brought  up  by 
me,  and  I  know  to  the  contrary;  and  besides  that,  no  one 
ever  comes  here.  (Aside)  This  youth  has  roused  in  roe  sus- 
picions which  pierce  my  heart  like  a  dagger.  (To  Godard) 
Why  don't  you  ask  her  if  such  is  the  case  ? 

GODARD 

How  could  I  ask  her  anything?  At  my  first  word  of  jeal- 
ous suspicion,  she  resented  my  curiosity. 

GERTRUDE 
Well,  I  shall  have  no  hesitation  in  questioning  her. 

THE  GENERAL 

Ah,  here  comes  the  doctor !  We  shall  now  learn  the  truth 
concerning  the  death  of  Champagne's  wife. 


SCENE  FIFTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  DR.  VERNON. 
THE  GENERAL 


Well,  how  are  you? 


THE  STEPMOTHER  25 

VERNON 

I  was  quite  sure  of  it.  Ladies  (he  bows  to  them),  as  a 
general  rule  when  a  man  beats  his  wife,  he  takes  care  not  to 
poison  her ;  he  would  lose  too  much  by  that.  He  doesn't  want 
to  be  without  a  victim. 

THE  GENERAL  (to  Godard) 
He  is  a  charming  fellow  1 

GODARD 

Charming ! 

THE  GENERAL  (to  the  doctor,  presenting  Godard  to  him) 
M.  Godard. 

GODAED 

De  Eimonville. 

VERNON   (looking  at  Godard) 

If  he  kills  her,  it  is  by  mistake  from  having  hit  her  a  little 
too  hard ;  and  he  is  overwhelmed  with  grief ;  while  Champagne 
is  innocently  delighted  to  have  been  made  a  widower  by 
natural  causes.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  his  wife  died  of  cholera. 
It  was  a  very  rare  case,  but  he  who  has  once  seen  Asiatic 
cholera  cannot  forget  it,  and  I  am  glad  that  I  had  that  oppor- 
tunity; for,  since  the  campaign  in  Egypt,  I  have  never  met 
with  a  case.  If  I  had  been  called  in  in  time  I  could  have 
saved  her. 

GERTRUDE 

How  fortunate  we  are,  for  if  a  crime  had  been  committed 
in  this  establishment,  which  for  twelve  years  has  been  so  free 
from  disturbance,  I  should  have  been  horrified. 

THE  GENERAL 

Here  you  see  the  effect  of  all  this  tittle-tattle.  But  are 
you  quite  certain,  Vernon? 


26  THE  STEPMOTHER 

VERNON 

Am  I  certain?  That's  a  fine  question  to  put  to  a  retired 
surgeon-in-chief  who  has  attended  twelve  French  armies, 
from  1793  to  1815,  and  has  practiced  in  Germany,  in  Spain, 
in  Italy,  in  Kussia,  in  Poland,  and  in  Egypt! 

THE  GENERAL   (poking  Mm  in  the  ribs) 
Away,  you  charlatan !    I  reckon  you  have  killed  more  peo- 
ple than  I  have  in  those  countries. 

GODARD 
What  is  this  talk  that  you  are  alluding  to? 

GERTRUDE 

This  poor  Champagne,  our  foreman,  was  supposed  to  have 
poisoned  his  wife. 

VERNON 

Unhappily,  the  night  before  she  died,  they  had  had  an 
altercation  which  ended  in  blows.  Ah !  they  don't  take  exam- 
ple from  their  masters. 

GODARD 

Such  happiness  as  reigns  here  ought  to  be  contagious,  but 
the  virtues  which  are  exemplified  in  the  countess  are  very 
rare. 

GERTRUDE 

Is  there  any  merit  in  loving  an  excellent  husband  and  a 
daughter  such  as  these? 

THE  GENERAL 

Come,  Gertrude,  say  no  more !  such  words  ought  not  to  be 
epoken  in  public. 

VERNON  (aside) 

Such  things  are  always  said  in  this  way,  when  it  is  neces- 
sary to  make  people  believe  them. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  27 

THE  GENERAL  (to  Vernon) 
What  are  you  muttering  about? 

VERNON 

I  was  saying  that  I  was  sixty-seven  years  old,  and  that  I 
\vas  younger  than  you  are,  and  that  I  should  wish  to  be  loved 
like  that.  (Aside)  If  only  I  could  be  sure  that  it  was  love. 

THE  GENERAL  (to  the  doctor) 

I  see  you  are  dubious!  (To  his  wife)  My  dear  child,  there 
is  no  need  for  me  to  bless  the  power  of  God  on  your  behalf, 
but  I  think  He  must  have  lent  it  me,  in  order  that  I  might 
love  you  sufficiently. 

VERNON 

You  forget  that  I  am  a  doctor,  my  dear  friend.  What 
you  are  saying  to  Madame  is  only  good  for  the  burden  of  a 
ballad. 

GERTRUDE 
The  burdens  of  some  ballads,  doctor,  are  exceedingly  true. 

THE  GENERAL 

Doctor,  if  you  continue  teasing  my  wife,  we  shall  quarrel; 
to  doubt  on  such  a  subject  as  that  is  an  insult. 

VERNON 

I  have  no  doubt  about  it.  (To  the  General)  I  would  merely 
say,  that  you  have  loved  so  many  women  with  the  power  of 
God,  that  I  am  in  an  ecstasy  as  a  doctor  to  see  you  still  so 
good  a  Christian  at  seventy !  ( Gertrude  glides  softly  towards 
Hie  sofa,  where  the  doctor  is  seated.) 

THE  GENERAL 
Pshaw!     The  last    passions,  my  friend,  are    always  the 

strongest. 


28  THE  STEPMOTHER 

VERNON 

You  are  right.  In  youth,  we  love  with  all  our  strength 
which  grows  weaker  with  age,  while  in  age  we  love  with  all 
our  weakness  which  is  ever  on  the  increase. 

THE  GENERAL 
Oh,  vile  philosophy! 

GERTRUDE  (to  Vernon) 

Doctor,  how  is  it  that  you,  who  are  so  good,  try  to  infuse 
doubts  into  the  heart  of  Grandchamp?  You  know  that  he 
is  so  jealous  that  he  would  kill  a  man  on  suspicion.  I  have 
such  respect  for  his  feelings  that  I  have  concluded  upon 
seeing  no  one,  but  you,  the  mayor  and  the  cure.  Do  you  want 
me  also  to  forego  your  society  which  is  so  pleasant,  so  agree- 
able to  us  ?  Ah !  Here  is  Napoleon. 

VERNON  (aside) 

I  take  this  for  a  declaration  of  war.  She  has  sent  away 
every  one  else,  she  intends  to  dismiss  me. 

GODARD  (to  Vernon) 

Doctor,  you  are  an  intimate  friend  of  the  house,  tell  me, 
pray,  what  do  you  think  of  Mile.  Pauline?  (The  doctor  rises 
from  his  seat,  looks  at  the  speaker,  blows  his  nose,  and  goes 
to  the  middle  of  the  stage.  The  dinner  bell  sounds.) 


SCENE  SIXTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  NAPOLEON  AND  FELIX. 

NAPOLEON 
Papa,  papa,  didn't  .you  say  I  could  ride  Coco  ? 


THE  STEPMOTHER  29 

THE  GENERAL 
Certainly. 

NAPOLEON  (to  Felix) 
Do  you  hear  that  ? 

GERTRUDE  (wiping  her  son's  forehead) 
He  is  quite  warm! 

THE  GENERAL 
But  only  on  condition  that  some  one  goes  with  you. 

FELIX 

You  see  I  was  right,  Master  Napoleon.    General,  the  little 
rascal  wished  to  go  on  his  pony  alone  into  the  country. 

NAPOLEON 

He  was  frightened  for  me !    Do  you  think  I  am  afraid  of 
anything?     (Exit  Felix.    Dinner  bell  rings.) 

THE  GENERAL 

Come  and  let  me  kiss  you  for  that  word.     He  is  a  little 
soldier  and  belongs  to  the  Young  Guard. 

VERNON  (with  a  glance  at  Gertrude) 
He  takes  after  his  father! 

GERTRUDE  (quicTcly) 

As  regards  courage,  he  is  his  father's  counterpart;  but  as 
to  physique,  he  resembles  me. 

FELIX 
Dinner  is  served. 

GERTRUDE 

Very  well !     But  do  you  know  where  Ferdinand  is  ?     He 
is  generally  so  punctual.    Here,  Napoleon,  go  to  the  entrance 


30  THE  STEPMOTHER 

of  the  factory  and  see  if  he  is  coming.     Tell  him  to  hurry; 
the  bell  has  rung. 

THE  GENERAL 

We  need  not  wait  for  Ferdinand.  Godard,  give  your  arm 
to  Pauline.  (Vernon  offers  his  arm  to  .Gertrude.)  Excuse 
me,  Vernon,  you  ought  to  be  aware  that  I  never  permit  any- 
body but  myself  to  take  my  wife's  arm. 

VERNON  (aside)^ 
Decidedly,  he  is  incurable. 

NAPOLEON  (running  back) 
I  saw  Ferdinand  down  in  the  main  avenue. 

VERNON 
Give  me  your  hand,  you  little  tyrant  1 

NAPOLEON 

Tyrant  yourself !  I'll  bet  I  could  tire  you  out.  (He  turns 
Vernon  round  and  round.  All  leave,  chatting  gaily.) 


SCENE  SEVENTH. 

FERDINAND  (cautiously  stealing  from  Pauline's  room) 
The  youngster  saved  me,  but  I  do  not  know  how  he  hap- 
pened to  see  me  in  the  avenue !  One  more  piece  of  careless- 
ness like  this  may  ruin  us !  I  must  extricate  myself  from  this 
situation  at  any  price.  Here  is  Pauline  refusing  Godard's 
proposal.  The  General,  and  especially  Gertrude,  will  try  to 
find  out  the  motives  of  her  refusal !  But  I  must  hasten  to 
reach  the  veranda,  so  that  I  may  have  the  appearance  of 
having  come  from  the  main  avenue,  as  Leon  said.  I  hope  no 
one  will  catch  sight  of  me  from  the  dining-room.  (He  meets 
Eamel.)  What,  Eugene  Eamel! 


THE  STEPMOTHER  31 

SCENE  EIGHTH. 
FERDINAND  AND  EAMEL, 

EAMEL 
You  here,  Marcandal ! 

FERDINAND 

Hush !  Don't  pronounce  that  name  in  this  place !  If  the 
General  heard  that  my  name  was  Mercandal,  he  would  kill 
me  at  once  as  if  I  were  a  mad  dog. 

EAMEL 
And  why? 

FERDINAND 
Because  I  am  the  son  of  General  Marcandal. 

EAMEL 

A  general  to  whom  the  Bourbons  are  in  part  indebted  for 
their  second  innings. 

FERDINAND 

In  the  eyes  of  General  Grandchamp,  to  leave  Napoleon  for 
service  under  the  Bourbons  was  treason  against  France.  Alas ! 
this  was  also  my  father's  opinion,  for  he  died  of  grief.  You 
must  therefore  remember  to  call  me  by  the  name  of  Ferdi- 
nand Charny,  my  mother's  maiden  name. 

EAMEL 
And  what  are  you  doing  here? 

FERDINAND 

I  am  the  manager,  the  cashier,  the  factotum  of  Grand- 
champ's  factory. 

EAMEL 
How  is  this?    Do  you  do  it  from  necessity? 


32  THE  STEPMOTHER 

FERDINAND 

From  dire  necessity !  My  father  spent  everything,  even 
the  fortune  of  my  poor  mother,  who  lived  during  her  latter 
years  in  Brittany  on  the  pension  she  received  as  widow  of  a 
lieutenant-general. 

EAMEL 

How  is  it  that  your  father,  who  had  command  of  the  Royal 
Guard,  a  most  brilliant  position,  died  without  leaving  you 
anything,  not  even  a  patron? 

FERDINAND 

Had  he  never  betrayed  his  friends,  and  changed  sides, 
without  any  reason — 

EAMEL 
Come,  come,  we  won't  talk  any  more  about  that. 

FERDINAND 

My  father  was  a  gambler — that  was  the  reason  why  he  was 
so  indulgent  to  me.  But  may  I  ask  what  has  brought  you 
here? 

EAMEL 

A  fortnight  ago  I  was  appointed  king's  attorney  at 
Louviers. 

FERDINAND 

I  heard  something  about  it.  But  the  appointment  was  pub- 
lished under  another  name. 

EAMEL 
De  la  Grandiere,  I  suppose. 

FERDINAND 
That  is  it. 

EAMEL 
In  order  that  I  might  marry  Mile,  de  Boudeville,  I  obtained 


THE  STEPMOTHER  33 

permission  to  assume  my  mother's  name — as  you  have  done. 
The  Boudeville  family  have  given  me  their  protection,  and  in 
a  year's  time  I  shall  doubtless  be  attorney-general  at  Eouen — 
a  stepping-stone  towards  a  position  at  Paris. 

FERDINAND 
And  what  brings  you  to  our  quiet  factory? 

EAMEL 

I  came  to  investigate  a  criminal  case,  a  poisoning  affair, — a 
fine  introduction  into  my  office.  (Felix  enters.) 

FELIX 
Monsieur,  Madame  is  worrying  about  you — 

FERDINAND 

Please  ask  her  to  excuse  me  for  a  few  moments.  (Exit 
Felix.)  My  dear  Eugene,  in  case  the  General — who  like  all 
retired  troopers  is  very  inquisitive — should  inquire  how  we 
happen  to  meet  here,  don't  forget  to  say  that  we  came  up 
the  main  avenue.  It  is  important  for  me  that  you  should 
say  so.  But  go  on  with  your  story.  It  is  on  account  of  the 
wife  of  Champagne,  our  foreman,  that  you  have  come  here; 
but  he  is  innocent  as  a  new-born  babe ! 

EAMEL 

You  believe  so,  do  you?  Well,  the  officers  of  justice  are 
paid  for  being  incredulous.  I  see  that  you  still  remain,  as  I 
left  you,  the  noblest,  the  most  enthusiastic  fellow  in  the  world ; 
in  short,  a  poet !  A  poet  who  puts  the  poetry  into  his  life 
instead  of  writing  it,  and  believes  in  the  good  and  the  beauti- 
ful !  And  that  reminds  me — that  angel  of  your  dreams,  that 
Gertrude  of  yours,  whatever  has  become  of  her? 

FERDINAND 
Hush !    Not  only  has  the  minister  of  justice  sent  you  here, 


34  THE  STEPMOTHER 

but  some  celestial  influence  has  sent  to  me  at  Louviers  the 
friend  whose  help  I  need  in  my  terrible  perplexity.  Eugene, 
come  here  and  listen  to  me  awhile.  I  am  going  to  appeal  to 
you  as  my  college  friend,  as  the  confidant  of  my  youth;  you 
won't  put  on  the  airs  of  the  prosecuting  attorney  to  me,  will 
you?  You  will  see  from  the  nature  of  my  admissions  that 
I  impose  upon  you  the  secrecy  of  the  confessional. 

EAMEL 
Is  it  anything  criminal? 

FERDINAND 

Oh,  nonsense!  My  faults  are  such  as  the  judges  them- 
selves would  be  willing  to  commit. 

EAMEL 

Perhaps  I  had  better  not  listen  to  you ;  or,  if  I  do  listen  to 
you — 

FERDINAND 
Well! 

RAMEL 
I  could  demand  a  change  of  position. 

FERDINAND 

You  are  always  my  best  and  kindest  friend.  Listen  then! 
For  over  three  years  I  have  been  in  love  with  Mile.  Pauline 
de  Grandchamp,  and  she — 

EAMEL 

You  needn't  go  on;  I  understand.  You  have  been  reviv- 
ing Romeo  and  Juliet — in  the  heart  of  Normandy. 

FERDINAND 

With  this  difference,  that  the  hereditary  hatred  which 
stood  between  the  two  lovers  of  the  play  was  a  mere  trifle  in 


THE  STEPMOTHER  35 

comparison  with  the  loathing  with  which  the  Comte  de  Grand- 
champ  contemplates  the  son  of  the  traitor  Marcandal! 

EAMEL 

Let  me  see !  Mile.  Pauline  de  Grandchamp  will  be  free 
in  three  years;  she  is  rich  in  her  own  right — I  know  this 
from  the  Boudevilles.  You  can  easily  take  her  to  Switzerland 
and  keep  her  there  until  the  General's  wrath  has  had  time  to 
cool;  and  then  you  can  make  him  the  respectful  apologies 
required  under  the  circumstances. 

FERDINAND 

Do  you  think  I  would  have  asked  your  advice  if  the  only 
difficulty  lay  in  the  attainment  of  this  trite  and  easy  solution 
of  the  problem  ? 

KAMEL 

Ah!  I  see,  my  dear  friend.  You  have  already  married 
your  Gertrude — your  angel — who  has  become  to  you  like  all 
other  angels,  after  their  metamorphoses  into  a  lawful  wives. 

FERDINAND 

"Pis  a  hundred  times  worse  than  that !  Gertrude,  my  dear 
sir,  is  now  Madame  de  Grandchamp. 

RAMEL 

Oh,  dear!  how  is  it  you've  thrust  yourself  into  such  a 
hornets'  nest? 

FERDINAND 

In  the  same  way  that  people  always  thrust  themselves  into 
hornets'  nests;  that  is,  with  the  hope  of  finding  honey  there. 

RAMEL 

Oh,  oh!  This  is  a  very  serious  matter!  Now,  really,  you. 
must  conceal  nothing  from  me. 


36  THE  STEPMOTHER 

FERDINAND 

Mile.  Gertrude  de  Meilhac,  educated  at  St.  Denis,  without 
doubt  loved  me  first  of  all  through  ambition ;  she  was  glad  to 
know  that  I  was  rich,  and  did  all  she  could  to  gain  my  attacn- 
ment  with  a  view  to  marriage. 

RAMEL 

Such  is  the  game  of  all  these  intriguing  orphan  girls, 

•f 

FERDINAND 

But  how  came  it  about  that  Gertrude  has  ende<?  by  Jovtng 
me  so  sincerely  ?  For  her  passion  may  be  judged  by  its  effects. 
I  call  it  a  passion,  but  with  her  it  is  first  iove^  sole  and 
undivided  love,  which  dominates  her  whole  life,  and  seems  to 
consume  her.  When  she  found  that  I  was  a  ruined  man,  to- 
wards the  close  of  the  j'ear  1816,  and  knowing  that  I  was  like 
you,  a  p<3et,  fond  of  luxury  and  art,  of  a  soft  and  happy  life, 
in  short,  a  mere  spoilt  child,  she  formed  a  plan  at  once  base 
and  sublime,  such  a  plan  as  disappointed  passion  suggests  to 
women  who,  for  the  sake  of  their  love,  do  all  that  despots  do 
for  the  sake  of  their  power;  ioi-  them,  the  supreme  law  is 
that  of  their  love — 

RAMEL 

The  facts,  my  dear  fellow,  give  me  the  facts!  You  are 
making  your  defence,  recollect,  and  I  am  prosecuting  attorney. 

FERDINAND 

While  I  was  settling  my  mother  in  Brittany,  Gertrude  met 
General  de  Grandchamp,  who  was  seeking  a  governess  for  his 
daughter.  She  saw  nothing  in  this  battered  warrior,  then 
fifty-eight  years  old,  but  a  money-box.  She  expected  that  she 
would  soon  be  left  a  widow,  wealthy  and  in  circumstances  to 
claim  her  lover  and  her  slave.  She  said  to  herself  that  her 
marriage  would  be  merely  a  bad  dream,  followed  quickly  by  a 
happy  awakening.  You  see  the  dream  has  lasted  twelve 
years !  But  you  know  how  women  reason. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  37 

RAMEL 
They  have  a  special  jurisprudence  of  their  own. 

FERDINAND 

Gertrude  is  a  woman  of  the  fiercest  jealousy.  She  wishes 
for  fidelity  in  her  lover  to  recompense  her  for  her  infidelity 
to  her  husband,  and  as  she  has  suffered  martyrdom,  she 
says,  she  wishes — 

RAIIEL 

To  have  you  in  the  same  house  with  her,  that  she  may  keep 
watch  over  3rou  herself. 

FERDINAND 

She  has  been  successful  in  getting  me  here.  For  the  last 
three  years  I  have  been  living  in  a  small  house  near  the  fac- 
tory. I  should  have  left  the  first  week  after  my  arrival,  but 
that  two  days'  acquaintance  with  Pauline  convinced  me  that 
I  could  not  live  without  her. 

RAMEL 

Your  love  for  Pauline,  it  seems  to  me  as  a  magistrate, 
makes  your  position  here  somewhat  less  distasteful . 

FERDINAND 

My  position?  I  assure  you,  it  is  intolerable,  among  the 
three  characters  with  whom  I  am  cast.  Pauline  is  daring, 
like  all  young  persons  who  are  innocent,  to  whom  love  is  a 
wholly  ideal  thing,  and  who  see  no  evil  in  anything,  so  long 
as  it  concerns  a  man  whom  they  intend  to  marry.  The  pene- 
tration of  Gertrude  is  very  acute,  but  we  manage  to  elude  it 
through  Pauline's  terror  lest  my  name  should  be  divulged; 
the  sense  of  this  danger  gives  her  strength  to  dissemble !  But 
now  Pauline  has  just  refused  Godard,  and  I  do  not  know 
what  may  be  the  consequences. 

RAMEL 
I  know  Godard;  under  a  somewhat  dull  exterior  he  con- 


38  THE  STEPMOTHER 

ceals  great  sagacity,  and  he  is  the  most  inquisitive  man  in  the 
department.    Is  he  here  now  ? 

FERDINAND 
He  dines  here  to-day. 

EAMEL 
Do  not  trust  him. 

FERDINAND 

Good !  If  two  women,  between  whom  there  is  no  love  lost, 
make  the  discovery  that  they  are  rivals,  one  of  them,  I  can't 
say  which,  would  be  capable  of  killing  the  other;  for  one  is 
strong  in  innocence  and  lawful  love ;  the  other,  furious  to  see 
the  fruit  of  so  much  dissimulation,  so  many  sacrifices,  even 
crimes,  lost  to  her  forever.  (Enter  Napoleon.) 

RAMEL 

You  alarm  me — me,  the  prosecuting  attorney!  Upon  my 
word  and  honor,  women  often  cost  more  than  they  are  worth. 

NAPOLEON 

Dear  friend !  Papa  and  mamma  are  impatient  about  you ; 
they  send  word  that  you  must  leave  your  business,  and 
Vernon  says  that  your  stomach  requires  it. 

FERDINAND 
You  little  rogue !    You  are  come  eavesdropping ! 

NAPOLEON 

Mamma  whispered  in  my  ear:  "Go  and  see  what  your 
friend  is  doing." 

FERDINAND 

Hun  away,  you  little  scamp!  Be  off!  I  am  coming.  (To 
Ramel)  You  see  she  makes  this  innocent  child  a  spy  over  me. 
(Exit  Napoleon.) 


THE  STEPMOTHER  39 

RAMEL 
Is  this  the  General's  child? 

FERDINAND 
Yes. 

RAMEL 
He  is  twelve  years  old  ? 

FERDINAND 
About. 

RAMEL 
Have  you  anything  more  to  tell  me  ? 

FERDINAND 
Really,  I  think  I  have  told  you  enough. 

RAMEL 

Very  well !  Go  and  get  your  dinner.  Say  nothing  of  my 
arrival,  nor  of  my  purpose  here.  Let  them  finish  their  dinner 
in  peace.  Now  go  at  once.  (Exit  Ferdinand.) 


SCENE  NINTH. 

RAMEL  (alone) 

Poor  fellow!  If  all  young  people  had  studied  the  annals 
of  the  court,  as  I  have  done  in  seven  years  of  a  magistrate's 
work,  they  would  come  to  the  conclusion  that  marriage  must 
be  accepted  as  the  sole  romance  which  is  possible  in  life.  But 
if  passion  could  control  itself,  it  would  be  virtue. 

Curtain  to  First  Act. 


40  THE  STEPMOTHER 


ACT  II. 


SCENE  FIRST. 

(Stage  setting  remains  as  in  Act  I.) 
EAMEL  AND  MARGUERITE;  LATER,  FELIX. 

(Ramel  is  buried  in  his  reflections,  reclining  on  the  sofa  in 
such  a  way  as  to  be  almost  out  of  sight.  Marguerite  brings 
in  lights  and  cards.  Night  is  approaching.) 

MARGUERITE 

Four  card  tables — that  will  be  enough,  even  though  the 
cure,  the  mayor  and  his  assistant  come.  (Felix  lights  the 
candles.)  I'll  wager  anything  that  my  poor  Pauline  will  not 
be  married  this  time.  Dear  child !  If  her  late  mother  were 
to  see  that  she  was  not  the  queen  of  the  house,  she  would  weep 
in  her  coffin !  I  only  remain  here  in  order  to  comfort  and 
to  wait  upon  her. 

FELIX  (aside) 

What  is  this  old  woman  grumbling  about?  (Aloud)  Whom 
art.  you  complaining  of  now,  Marguerite?  I'll  bet  it  is  the 
mistress. 

MARGUERITE 
No,  it  is  not ;  I  am  blaming  the  master. 

FELIX 

The  General?  You  had  better  mind  your  own  business. 
He  is  a  saint,  is  that  man. 

MARGUERITE 
Yes,  a  stone  saint,  for  he  is  blind. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  41 

FELIX 
You  had  better  say  that  he  has  been  blinded. 

MARGUERITE 
You  hit  the  nail  on  the  head  there. 

FELIX 
The  General  has  but  one  fault — he  is  jealous. 

MARGUERITE 
Yes,  and  obstinate,,  too. 

FELIX 

Yes,  obstinate ;  it  is  the  same  thing.  When  once  he  suspects 
anything  he  comes  down  like  a  hammer.  That  was  the  way  he 
laid  two  men  lifeless  at  a  blow.  Between  ourselves,  there  is 
only  one  way  to  treat  a  trooper  of  that  sort:  you  must  stuff 
him  with  flattery.  And  the  mistress  certainly  does  stuff  him. 
Besides,  she  is  clever  enough  to  put  blinkers  on  him,  such  as 
they  put  on  shying  horses;  he  can  see  neither  to  the  right 
nor  to  the  left,  and  she  says  to  him,  "My  dear,  look  straight 
ahead !"  So  she  does ! 

MARGUERITE 

Ah !  You  think  with  me  that  a  woman  of  thirty-two  does 
not  love  a  man  of  seventy  without  some  object.  She  is  schem- 
ing something. 

EAMEL  (aside) 
Oh,  these  servants !  whom  we  pay  to  spy  over  us ! 

FELIX 

What  can  be  her  scheme  ?  She  never  leaves  the  house,  she 
never  sees  any  one. 

MARGUERITE 
She  would  skin  a  flint !    She  has  taken  away  the  keys  from 


42  THE  STEPMOTHER 

me — from  me  who  always  had  the  confidence  of  the  former 
mistress;  do  you  know  why  she  did  so? 

FELIX 
I  suppose  she  is  saving  up  her  pile. 

MARGUERITE 

Yes,  out  of  the  fortune  of  Mile.  Pauline,  and  the  profits 
of  the  factory.  That  is  the  reason  why  she  puts  off  the  mar- 
riage of  the  dear  child  as  long  as  she  can,  for  she  has  to  give 
up  her  fortune  when  she  marries  her. 

FELIX 

Yes,  that's  the  law. 

MARGUERITE 

I  would  forgive  her  everything,  if  only  she  made  Made- 
mioselle  happy;  hnt  I  sometimes  catch  my  pet  in  tears,  and 
I  ask  her  what  is  the  matter,  and  she  says  nothing  but  "Good 
Marguerite!"  (Exit  Felix.)  Let  me  see,  have  I  done  every- 
thing? Yes,  here  are  the  card  tables — the  candles — the  cards 
— Ah!  the  sofa.  (She  catches  sight  of  Ramel)  Good  Lord!  a 
stranger ! 

RAMEL 

Don't  be  startled,  Marguerite. 

MARGUERITE 
You  must  have  heard  all  we  said. 

RAMEL 

Don't  be  alarmed.  My  business  is  to  keep  secrets.  I  am  the 
state's  attorney. 

MARGUERITE 
Oh! 


THE  STEPMOTHER  43 

SCENE  SECOND. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  PAULINE,  GODARD,  VERNON,  NAPOLEON, 

FERDINAND,  THE  GENERAL,  MADAME 

DE  GRANDCHAMP. 

(Gertrude  rushes  to  Marguerite  and  snatches  the  cushions 
from  her  hands.) 

GERTRUDE 

Marguerite,  you  know  very  well  what  pain  you  give  me,  by 
not  allowing  me  to  do  everything  for  your  master;  besides,  I 
am  the  only  one  who  knows  how  to  arrange  the  cushions  to  his 
liking. 

MARGUERITE  (to  Pauline) 
What  a  to-do  about  nothing ! 

GODARD 
Why,  look !    Here  is  the  state's  attorney ! 

THE  GENERAL 
The  state's  attorney  at  my  house  ? 

GERTRUDE 
I  am  surprised ! 

THE  GENERAL  (to  Ramel) 
Sir,  what  brings  you  here  ? 

EAMEL 

I  asked  my  friend,  M.  Ferdinand  Mar — (Ferdinand  checks 
him  by  a  gesture.  Gertrude  and  Pauline  look  at  him  in 
alarm). 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 

It  is  his  friend,  Eugene  Ramel. 


44  THE  STEPMOTHER 

RAMEL 

My  friend,  Ferdinand  de  Charny,  to  whom  I  have  told  the 
object  of  my  visit,  to  say  nothing  about  it  until  you  had 
finished  your  dinner. 

THE  GENERAL 
Ferdinand  then  is  your  friend? 

RAMEL 

I  have  known  him  from  childhood ;  and  here  we  met  in  your 
avenue.  On  meeting,  after  nine  years  of  separation,  we  had 
go  many  things  to  talk  about,  that  I  caused  him  to  be  late. 

THE  GENERAL 

But,  sir,  to  what  circumstance  am  I  to  attribute  your  pres- 
ence here  ? 

RAMEL 

I  come  in  the  matter  of  Jean  Nicot,  known  as  Champagne, 
your  foreman,  who  is  charged  with  a  crime. 

GERTRUDE 

But,  sir,  our  friend,  Doctor  Vernon,  has  declared  that 
Champagne's  wife  died  a  natural  death. 

VERNON 
Yes,  sir,  cholera. 

RAMEL 

Justice,  sir,  believes  in  nothing  but  investigations  and  con- 
victions of  its  own.  You  did  wrong  to  proceed  before  my 
arrival. 

FELIX 
Madame,  shall  I  bring  in  the  coffee  ? 

GERTRUDE 

Wait  awhile!  (Aside)  How  changed  this  man  is,  this 
attorney.  I  shouldn't  have  recognized  him.  He  terrifies  me. 


THE  'STEPMOTHER  45 

THE  GENERAL 

But  how  could  you  be  brought  here  by  the  crime  of  Cham- 
pagne, an  old  soldier  for  whom  I  would  stand  security? 

EAMEL 

You  will  learn  that,  on  the  arrival  of  the  investigating 
magistrate. 

THE  GENERAL 
Will  you  be  pleased  to  take  a  seat? 

FERDINAND  (to  Ramel,  pointing  out  Pauline) 
That  is  she! 

EAMEL 
A  man  might  lay  down  his  life  for  such  a  lovely  girL 

GERTRUDE  (to  Ramel) 

We  do  not  know  each  other !    You  have  never  seen  me,  have 
you  ?    You  must  have  pity  on  us ! 

EAMEL 
You  may  depend  upon  me  for  that. 

THE  GENERAL  (who  sees  Ramel  and  Gertrude  talking 

together) 
Is  my  wife  to  be  called  to  this  investigation  ? 

EAMEL 

Certainly,  General.  I  came  here  myself  because  the  countess 
had  not  been  notified  that  we  required  her  presence. 

THE  GENERAL 
My  wife  mixed  up  in  such  an  affair  ?    It  is  an  outrage ! 

VERNON 
Keep  cool,  my  friend. 


46  THE  STEPMOTHER 

FELIX   (announcing) 
Monsieur,  the  investigating  magistrate! 

THE  GENERAL 
Let  him  come  in. 


SCENE  THIRD. 

THE    SAME    PERSONS,    THE    INVESTIGATING    MAGISTRATE, 

CHAMPAGNE,  BAUDRILLON  AND  A  GENDARME  WHO 

is  GUARDING  CHAMPAGNE. 

THE  MAGISTRATE  (bowing  to  the  company) 
Monsieur  the  state's  attorney,  this  is  M.  Baudrillon,  the 
druggist. 

EAMEL 
Has  M.  Baudrillon  seen  the  accused? 

THE  MAGISTRATE 
No,  monsieur,  the  accused  came  in  charge  of  a  gendarme. 

EAMEL 

We  shall  soon  learn  the  truth  in  this  case !    Let  M.  Baudril- 
lon and  the  accused  approach. 

THE  MAGISTRATE 

Come  forward,  M.  Baudrillon;   (to  Champagne)  and  you 
also. 

EAMEL 

M.  Baudrillon,  do  you  identify  this  man  as  the  person  who 
bought  arsenic  from  you  two  days  ago  ? 

BADDRILLON 

Yes,  that  is  the  very  man. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  47 

CHAMPAGNE 

Didn't  I  tell  you,  M.  Baudrillon,  that  it  was  for  the  mice 
that  were  eating  up  everything,  even  in  the  house,  and  that  I 
wanted  it  for  Madame? 

THE  MAGISTRATE 

Do  you  hear  him,  madame  ?  This  is  his  plea ;  he  pretends 
that  you  yourself  sent  him  to  get  this  stuff,  and  that  he  handed 
the  package  to  you  just  as  he  took  it  from  M.  Baudrillon. 

GERTRUDE 
It  is  true,  sir. 

EAMEL 

Did  you  make  any  use  of  the  arsenic,  madame  ? 

GERTRUDE 
No,  sir. 

THE  MAGISTRATE 

You  can  then  show  us  the  package  sent  by  M.  Baudrillon ;  it 
should  have  his  label,  and  if  he  acknowledges  that  it  is  entire 
and  unbroken,  the  serious  charges  made  against  your  fore- 
man will  in  part  be  disproved.  We  shall  then  have  nothing 
more  to  do  than  to  receive  the  report  of  the  physician  who 
held  the  autopsy. 

GERTRUDE 

The  package,  sir,  has  never  been  taken  from  the  desk  in  my 
bedroom.  (Exit.) 

CHAMPAGNE 

Ah !    General,  I  am  saved ! 

THE  GENERAL 
Poor  old  Champagne ! 

EAMEL 
General,  we  shall  be  very  happy  if  we  have  to  announce  the 


48  THE  STEPMOTHER 

innocence  of  your  foreman ;  unlike  you  soldiers,  we  are  always 
delighted  to  be  beaten. 

GERTRUDE  (returning) 

Here  it  is,  gentlemen.  (The  magistrate,  Baudrillon  and 
Ramel  examine  the  package.) 

BAUDRILLON  (putting  on  his  glasses) 

It  is  intact,  gentlemen,  perfectly  intact.  Here  is  my  seal 
on  it  unbroken. 

THE  MAGISTRATE 

Lock  that  up  carefully,  madame,  for  the  assizes  for  some 
time  have  had  to  deal  with  nothing  but  poisoning  cases. 

GERTRUDE 

You  see,  sir,  I  have  kept  it  in  my  desk,  to  which  none  but 
the  General  and  myself  have  access.  (She  returns  to  her  bed- 
room.) 

RAMEL 

General,  we  will  not  wait  for  the  report  of  the  autopsy. 
The  principal  charge,  which  you  will  agree  with  me  was  very 
serious,  for  all  the  town  was  talking  of  it,  has  been  disproved ; 
and  as  we  have  full  confidence  in  the  skill  and  integrity  of 
Doctor  Vernon,  (Gertrude  returns)  Champagne,  you  are 
at  liberty.  (General  expression  of  satisfaction.)  But  you 
see,  my  friend,  to  what  painful  suspicions  a  man  exposes 
himself  when  his  home  has  a  bad  name. 

CHAMPAGNE 

Ask  the  General,  your  Honor,  if  I  am  not  mild  as  a  lamb ; 
but  my  wife,  God  forgive  her,  was  the  worst  that  was  ever 
made.  An  angel  could  not  have  stood  her.  If  I  have  some- 
times tried  to  bring  her  to  reason,  the  anxious  moments  you 
have  made  me  pass  here,  have  been  punishment  enough !  To 


THE  STEPMOTHER  49 

be  taken  up  for  a  prisoner,  and  to  know  yourself  innocent, 
while  you  are  in  the  hands  of  justice!     (Weeps.) 

THE  GENERAL 
Well!  well!     You  are  acquitted  now! 

NAPOLEON 
Papa,  what  is  justice? 

THE  GENERAL 
Gentlemen,  justice  ought  not  to  commit  errors  of  this  kind 

GERTRUDE 

There  seems  to  be  always  something  fatal  in  this  justice! 
And  this  poor  man  will  always  bear  a  bad  name  from  your 
arrival  here.. 

KAMEL 

Madame,  for  the  innocent  there  is  nothing  fatal  in  criminal 
justice.  You  see  that  Champagne  has  been  promptly  dis- 
charged. (Fixing  his  eyes  on  Gertrude.)  Those  who  live 
without  reproach,  who  indulge  no  passions,  save  the  noble 
and  the  lawful,  have  nothing  to  fear  from  justice. 

GERTRUDE 

Sir,  you  do  not  know  the  people  of  this  country.  Ten  years 
from  this  time  they  will  say  that  Champagne  poisoned  his 
wife,  that  the  officers  of  justice  came  to  investigate  and,  but 
for  our  protection — 

THE  GENERAL 

Say  no  more,  Gertrude.  These  gentlemen  have  done  only 
their  duty.  (Felix  prepares  the  coffee.)  Gentlemen,  can  I 
offer  you  a  cup  of  coffee? 

THE  MAGISTRATE 
Thank  you,  General;  the  urgency  of  this  affair  called  me 


50  THE  STEPMOTHER 

away  from  home  rather  suddenly,  and  my  wife  is  waiting  din- 
ner for  me  at  Louviers.  (He  goes  on  the  veranda  to  talk  with 
the  doctor.) 

THE  GENERAL  (to  Ramel) 
You  are  a  friend  of  Ferdinand's,  I  believe? 

BAMEL 

Yes,  General,  and  you  have  in  him  the  noblest  heart,  the 
most  spotless  integrity,  the  most  charming  character  that  I 
have  ever  met. 

PAULINE 
This  state's  attorney  seems  to  be  a  very  kind  man ! 

GODARD  (aside) 

And  why  does  she  say  that?  Is  it  because  he  praised  M. 
Ferdinand  ?  Ah !  there's  something  there ! 

GERTRUDE  (to  Ramel) 

Whenever  you  have  any  moments  to  spare,  you  must  come 
to  see  M.  de  Charny.  (To  the  General)  Would  not  that  be 
nice,  dear? 

THE  MAGISTRATE  (coming  in  from  the  veranda) 
M.  de  la  Grandiere,  our  physician,  agrees  with  Doctor  Ver- 
non  that  this  death  resulted  from  Asiatic  cholera.  We  beg, 
therefore,  that  you,  countess,  and  you,  count,  will  excuse  us 
for  having  disturbed,  even  for  a  moment,  the  tranquillity 
of  your  charming  household. 

EAMEL  (to  Gertrude  in  the  front  of  the  stage) 
Take  care!     God  never  protects  undertakings  so  rash  as 
yours.     I  have  discovered  all.     Give  up  Ferdinand,  leave  his 
life  free,  and  be  satisfied  with  the  happiness  of  a  wife.    The 
path  which  you  are  following  leads  to  crime. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  51 

GERTRUDE 
I'll  die  before  I  give  him  up! 

KAMEL  (aside) 

I  must  get  Ferdinand  away  from  this  place.  (Beckons 
to  Ferdinand,  takes  his  arm,  and  goes  out  with  him  after 
exchange  of  formal  bows.) 

THE  GENERAL 

At  last  we  are  rid  of  them!  (To  Gertrude)  Let  the  coffee 
be  handed  round. 

GERTRUDE 
Pauline,  kindly  ring  for  the  coffee.     (Pauline  rings.) 


SCENE  FOURTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  EXCEPTING  FERDINAND,  KAMEL,  THE 
MAGISTRATE  AND  BAUDRILLON. 

GODARD    (aside) 

I  shall  find  out  presently  whether  Pauline  loves  Ferdinand. 
This  urchin,  who  wants  to  know  about  justice,  seems  to  me 
pretty  cute;  I'll  make  use  of  him.  (Felix  appears.) 

GERTRUDE 
The  coffee.     (Felix  brings  in  the  tray.} 

GODARD  (who  has  taken  Napoleon  aside} 
Would  you  like  to  play  a  nice  trick  on  somebody? 

NAPOLEON 
That  I  would.    Do  you  know  one? 


52  THE  STEPMOTHER 

GODARD 

Come  with  me,  and  I'll  tell  you  how  you  must  do  it. 
(Godard  goes  on  veranda  with  Napoleon.) 

THE  GENERAL 

Pauline,  my  coffee.  (Pauline  brings  it  to  him.)  It  isn't 
sweet  enough.  (Pauline  gives  him  some  sugar.)  Thank  you, 
dear. 

GERTRUDE 

M.  de  Rimonville? 

THE  GENERAL 
Godard? 

GERTRUDE 
M.  de  Rimonville? 

THE  GENERAL 

Godard,  my  wife  wants  to  know  if  you  would  like  some 
coffee  ? 

GODARD 

Yes,  thank  you.  (He  places  himself  in  such  way  as  to 
watch  Pauline.) 

THE  GENERAL 
It  is  pleasant  to  sit  down  and  take  a  little  coffee  in  quiet ! 

NAPOLEON  (running  in) 

Mamma,  mamma !  My  good  friend  Ferdinand  has  just 
fallen  down;  he  has  broken  his  leg  and  they  are  carrying 
him  into  the  house. 

VERNON 
That's  dreadful! 

THE  GENERAL 
How  very  unfortunate  1 


THE  STEPMOTHER  53 

PAULINE 
Oh!     (Falls  back  on  her  chair.) 

GERTRUDE 
What  is  that  you  said? 

NAPOLEON 

It  is  all  a  joke !  I  only  wished  to  see  if  you  all  loved  my 
good  friend. 

GERTRUDE 

It  is  very  naughty  of  you  to  act  in  that  way;  how  did  you 
come  to  think  of  such  a  trick? 

NAPOLEON  (whispering) 
It  was  Godard. 

GODARD  (aside) 

She  loves  him !  She  was  nicely  caught  by  my  trap,  which  I 
have  never  known  to  fail. 

GERTRUDE  (to  Godard,  as  she  offers  him  some  coffee) 
Are  you  aware,  sir,  that  you  would  make  a  very  indifferent 
preceptor?    It  is  very  had  of  you  to  teach  a  child  such  mis- 
chievous tricks. 

GODARD 

You  will  come  to  the  conclusion  that  I  did  pretty  well, 
when  you  learn  that  I  have  been  enabled  by  this  little  strata- 
gem to  discover  my  rival.  (He  points  to  Ferdinand  who  is 
entering  the  room.) 

GERTRUDE  (letting  fall  the  sugar  basin) 
He! 

GODARD  (aside) 
She  is  in  the  same  box! 


54 

You  startled  me. 

THE  GENERAL  (who  has  risen  from  his  seat) 
What  is  the  matter  with  you,  my  dear  child  ? 

GERTRUDE 

Nothing ;  it  is  Godard's  nonsense ;  he  told  me  that  the  pub- 
lic prosecutor  had  come  back.  Felix,  take  away  this  sugar 
basin,  and  bring  me  another  one. 

VEBNON 
This  is  a  day  of  surprises. 

GERTRUDE 

M.  Ferdinand,  they  are  going  to  bring  some  sugar  for  you. 
(Aside)  He  is  not  looking  at  her.  (Aloud)  How  is  it, 
Pauline,  you  did  not  put  any  sugar  in  your  father's  coffee  ? 

NAPOLEON 

Why,  of  course,  it  was  because  she  was  too  scared;  didn't 
you  hear  her  say  "oh!"? 

PAULINE 

Won't  you  hold  your  tongue,  you  little  story-teller!  You 
are  always  teasing  me.  (She  sits  on  her  father's  knee,  and 
puts  sugar  in  his  cup.) 

GERTRUDE 

Can  it  be  true?  And  to  think  that  I  have  taken  such  pains 
in  dressing  her!  (To  Godard)  If  you  are  right,  your  mar- 
riage will  take  place  in  a  fortnight.  (Aloud)  M.  Ferdinand, 
here  is  your  coffee. 

GODARD  (aside) 
It  seems  that  I  caught  two  in  my  mouse-trap!     And  all 


THE  STEPMOTHER  55 

the  time  the  General  is  so  calm,  so  tranquil,  and  this  house- 
hold is  so  peaceful !  Things  are  getting  mixed  up.  I  shan't 
go  yet ;  I  wish  to  have  a  game  of  whist !  Oh !  I  give  up  all 
thoughts  of  marriage  for  the  present.  (Glancing  at  Ferdi- 
nand) There's  a  lucky  fellow !  He  is  loved  by  two  women- 
two  charming,  delightful  creatures !  He  is  indeed  a  factotum ! 
But  how  is  it  that  he  is  more  successful  than  I  am,  who  have 
an  income  of  forty  thousand  ? 

GERTRUDE 

Pauline,  my  dear,  offer  the  cards  to  the  gentlemen  for  a 
game  of  whist.  It  is  almost  nine  o'clock.  If  they  are  going 
to  have  a  game,  there  is  no  time  to  be  lost.  (Pauline  puts  out 
the  cards.)  Come,  Napoleon,  bid  good-night  to  the  gentle- 
men, let  them  see  you  are  a  good  boy,  and  don't  try  to  stay 
up  as  you  usually  do. 

NAPOLEON 
Good-night,  papa.    What  is  justice  like? 

THE  GENERAL 
Justice  is  blind !    Good-night,  my  pet. 

NAPOLEON 
Good-night,  M.  Vernon!    What  is  justice  made  of? 

VERNON 

It  is  made  up  of  all  our  crimes.  When  you  are  naughty, 
they  whip  you ;  that  is  justice. 

NAPOLEON 
They  never  whip  me. 

VERNON 
Then  they  never  do  justice  to  you ! 


56  THE  STEPMOTHER 

NAPOLEON 

Good-night,  my  good  friend !    Good-night,  Pauline !    Good- 
night, M.  Godard — 

GODARD 
De  Rimonville. 

NAPOLEON 
Have  I  been  good?     (Gertrude  kisses  him.) 

THE  GENERAL 
I  have  the  king. 

VERNON 
And  I,  the  queen. 

FERDINAND  (to  Godard) 
Monsieur,  we  are  partners. 

GERTRUDE  (seeing  Marguerite) 

Be  sure  to  say  your  prayers,  and  don't  provoke  Marguerite — 
Now,  go  to  bed,  dear  heart. 

NAPOLEON 
Yes,  dear  heart !    What  is  love  made  of  ?    (Exit  Napoleon.) 


SCENE  FIFTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  EXCEPT  NAPOLEON. 

THE  GENERAL 

When  that  child  begins  to  ask  questions,  he  is  an  amusing 
youngster. 

GERTRUDE 

It  is  often  very  embarrassing  to  answer  him.    (To  Pauline) 
Come,  Pauline,  let  us  go  and  finish  our  work. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  67 

VERNON. 
It  is  your  lead,  General. 

THE  GENERAL 

Mine?  You  ought  to  get  married,  and  we  could  visit  at 
your  house,  as  you  visit  here,  and  you  would  have  all  the  hap- 
piness of  a  family.  Don't  forget,  Godard,  that  there  is  no 
one  in  the  department  happier  than  I  am. 

VERNON 

When  a  man  reaches  sixty-seven  without  reaching  happi- 
ness, it  is  impossible  to  catch  up.  I  shall  die  a  bachelor. 
(Tli e  two  women  set  to  work  at  the  same  piece  of  embroidery.) 

GERTRUDE  (seated  with  Pauline  at  the  front  of  the  stage) 

How  is  this  my  child !  Godard  tells  me  that  you  received 
his  advances  very  coldly ;  yet  he  is  a  very  good  match  for  you. 

PAULINE 

My  father,  madame,  has  given  me  leave  to  choose  a  hus- 
band for  myself. 

GERTRUDE 

Do  you  know  what  Godard  will  say  ?  He  will  say  that  you 
refused  him  because  you  had  already  made  your  choice. 

PAULINE 

If  it  were  true,  you  and  my  father  would  know  it.  What 
reason  have  I  for  not  giving  you  my  confidence  ? 

GERTRUDE 

I  cannot  say,  and  I  do  not  blame  you.  You  see  in  matters 
of  love  women  keep  their  secret  with  heroic  constancy,  some- 
times in  the  midst  of  the  most  cruel  torments. 


68  THE  STEPMOTHEK 

PAULINE  (aside,  picking  up  the  scissors,  which, 

she  had  let  drop) 

Ferdinand  was  wise  in  telling  me  to  distrust  her — she  is  so 
insinuating ! 

GERTRUDE 

Perhaps  you  have  in  your  heart  a  love  like  that.  If  such  a 
misfortune  has  befallen  you,  you  may  rely  on  my  help — I 
love  you,  remember !  I  can  win  your  father's  consent ;  he  has 
confidence  in  me,  and  I  can  sway  both  his  mind  and  affections. 
Therefore,  dear  child,  you  may  open  your  heart  to  me. 

PAULINE 

You  can  read  my  heart,  madame,  for  I  am  concealing 
nothing  from  you. 

THE  GENERAL 

Vernon,  what  in  the  name  of  everything  are  you  doing? 
(Faint  murmurs  are  heard  among  the  card  players;  Pauline 
casts  a  look  at  them.) 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 

The  question  point-blank  does  not  do  with  her.  (Aloud) 
How  happy  you  make  me !  For  this  provincial  joker,  Godard, 
avers  that  you  almost  fainted  when  he  prompted  Napoleon 
to  declare  that  Ferdinand  had  broken  his  leg.  Ferdinand  is 
a  pleasant  young  fellow,  our  intimate  friend  for  some  four 
years;  what  is  more  natural  than  your . attachment  for  the 
youth,  whose  birth  and  talents  are  both  in  his  favor? 

PAULINE 
He  is  my  father's  clerk. 

GERTRUDE 

Thank  God,  you  are  not  in  love  with  him;  I  was  a  "little 
anxious  for  the  moment,  for,  my  dear  child,  he  is  a  married 
man. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  59 

PAULINE 

What !  he  is  married  ?  Why  then  does  he  make  a  secret  of 
it?  (Aside)  Married?  That  would  be  outrageous.  I  will 
ask  him  this  evening.  I  will  give  him  the  signal  on  which 
we  agreed  to  meet. 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 

Not  a  line  of  her  face  changed !  Godard  is  wrong,  or  this 
child  is  more  self-possessed  than  I  am.  (Aloud)  What  is  the 
matter  with  you,  my  pet  ? 

PAULINE 

Oh !  nothing. 

GERTRUDE  (touching  Pauline's  neck) 
Why,  you  are  quite  hot!     Do  you  feel  so?     (Aside)     She 
loves  him,  that  is  plain.    But  the  question  is,  does  he  love  her? 
I  suffer  the  torments  of  the  damned ! 

PAULINE 

I  have  been  working  too  closely  at  this  framed  And  what, 
pray,  is  the  matter  with  you? 

GERTRUDE 

Nothing.  But  you  asked  me  why  Ferdinand  kept  his  mar* 
riage  secret. 

PAULINE 
Ah !  yes ! 

GERTRUDE  (rising,  aside) 

If  she  is  in  love,  she  has  a  will  of  iron.  But  where  can  they 
have  met  ?  I  never  leave  her  in  the  daytime,  and  Champagne 
sees  him  all  the  time  at  the  factory.  No !  it  is  absurd — If  she 
does  love  him,  it  is  without  his  knowledge,  and  she  is  like 
all  other  young  girls,  who  begin  to  love  a  man  in  secret.  But 
if  they  have  come  to  an  understanding,  I  have  given  her 


60  THE  STEPMOTHER 

such  a  start  that  she  will  be  sure  to  communicate  with  him 
about  it,  if  only  through  her  eyes.  I  will  keep  them  both 
well  in  sight. 

GODARD 

We  have  had  wonderful  luck,  M.  Ferdinand !  (Ferdinand 
leaves  off  playing  and  goes  towards  Gertrude.) 

PAULINE  (aside) 

I  did  not  know  that  it  was  possible  to  suffer  so  much  and  yet 
live  on. 

FERDINAND  (to  Gertrude] 
Madame,  won't  you  take  my  place  in  the  game? 

GERTRUDE 

Pauline,  will  you  go  instead.  (Aside)  I  can't  tell  him 
that  he  loves  Pauline,  that  would  suggest  what  may  be  a  new 
idea  to  him.  What  shall  I  do?  (To  Ferdinand)  She  has 
confessed  all. 

FERDINAND 
Confessed  what? 

GERTRUDE 
Why,  all ! 

FERDINAND 
I  don't  understand — Do  you  refer  to  Mile,  de  Grandchamp  ? 

GERTRUDE 
Yes. 

FERDINAND 
And  what  has  she  been  doing? 

GERTRUDE 

You  have  not  been  false  to  me?  You  do  not  want  to  kill 
me? 


THE  STEPMOTHER  61 

FERDINAND 

Kill  you?    She?— IP- 
GERTRUDE 

Am  I  the  victim  of  one  of  Godard's  jokes  ? 

FERDINAND 
Gertrude,  you  are  beside  yourself ! 

GODARD  (to  Pauline) 
Ah!    Mademoiselle,  that  is  bad  play! 

PAULINE 

You  lost  a  great  deal  by  not  taking  my  stepmother  for  a 
partner 

GERTRUDE  (to  Ferdinand) 

Ferdinand,  I  do  not  know  whether  I  am  rightly  or  wrongly 
informed;  but  this  I  do  know;  I  prefer  death  to  the  loss  of 
our  hopes. 

FERDINAND 

Take  care !  The  doctor  has  been  watching  us  very  keenly 
for  the  last  few  days. 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 

She  has  not  once  looked  back  at  him !  (Aloud)  She  will 
marry  Godard,  for  her  father  will  compel  her  to  do  so. 

FERDINAND 
Godard  would  make  an  excellent  match  for  any  one. 

THE  GENERAL 

I  can't  stay  here  any  longer !  My  daughter  plays  vilely,  and 
you,  Vernon,  have  trumped  my  king! 

VERNON 
My  dear  General,  it  was  a  finesse. 


62  THE  STEPMOTHER 

THE  GENERAL 

You  stupid!  Come,  it  is  ten  o'clock,  and  time  to  go  to 
sleep  instead  of  playing  cards.  Ferdinand,  be  good  enough 
to  take  Godard  to  his  room.  As  for  you,  Vernon,  you  deserve 
to  sleep  on  the  floor  as  a  punishment,  for  trumping  my  king. 

GODARD 
It  is,  after  all,  merely  a  matter  of  five  francs,  General. 

THE  GENERAL 

It  is  also  a  matter  of  honor.  (To  Vernon)  Come,  now, 
although  you  have  played  so  badly,  let  me  hand  you  your  hat 
and  cane.  (Pauline  takes  a  flower  from  the  vase  and  plays 
with  it.) 

GERTRUDE   (aside) 

A  signal !  I  will  watch  her  this  night,  even  though  my 
husband  should  afterwards  kill  me  for  it ! 

FERDINAND  (taking  a  candlestick  from  Felix) 
M.  de  Kimonville,  I  am  at  your  service. 

GODARD 

I  wish  you  good-night,  madame.  My  respects  to  you, 
mademoiselle.  General,  good-night. 

THE  GENERAL 
Good-night,  Godard. 

GODARD 
De  Kimonville — Doctor,  I — 

VERNON  (looking  at  him  and  blowing  his  nose) 
Good-bye,  my  friend. 

THE  GENERAL  (attending  the  doctor  on  his  way  out) 
Good-bye  till  to-morrow,  Vernon,  but  come  early. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  63 

SCENE  SIXTH. 
GERTRUDE,  PAULINE  AND  THE  GENERAL. 

GERTRUDE 
My  dear,  Pauline  refuses  Godard. 

THE  GENERAL 
And  what  are  your  reasons,  my  daughter? 

PAULINE 
I  do  not  like  him  sufficiently  to  take  him  for  a  husband. 

THE  GENERAL 

Well,  never  mind  !  We  will  look  out  some  one  else  for  you ; 
but  it  is  time  for  this  to  end,  for  you  are  now  twenty-two,  and 
people  will  begin  to  talk  about  you,  my  wife  and  me  unless 
you  make  an  early  choice. 

PAULINE 
May  I  not  be  permitted,  if  I  choose,  to  remain  single  ? 

GERTRUDE 

She  has  made  her  choice,  but  probably  wishes  to  tell  you 
by  yourself.  I  will  leave  you,  and  she  will  confess  it.  (To 
Pauline)  Good-night,  my  child;  talk  freely  with  your  father. 
(Aside)  I  will  listen.  (She  enters  her  chamber  and  proceeds 
to  close  the  door.) 


SCENE  SEVENTH. 
THE  GENERAL  AND  PAULINE. 

THE  GENERAL  (aside) 
Act  as  my  daughter's  confessor !   I  am  utterly  unfitted  for 


64  THE  STEPMOTHER 

such  a  task!  She  might  rather  act  as  confessor  to  me. 
(Aloud]  Pauline,  come  here.  (He  takes  her  on  his  knee) 
Now,  do  you  really  think,  my  pet,  that  an  old  trooper  like  me 
doesn't  understand  your  resolution  to  remain  single?  Why, 
of  course,  that  means,  in  every  language  in  which  it  has  ever 
heen  uttered,  that  a  3roung  person  is  in  a  special  hurry  to  be 
married — to  some  one  that  she  is  in  love  with. 

PAULINE 

Papa,  I  would  like  to  tell  you  something,  but  I  cannot  have 
confidence  in  you. 

THE  GENERAL 
And  why  not,  mademoiselle  ? 

PAULINE 
Because  you  tell  everything  to  your  wife. 

THE  GENERAL 

And  you  mean  to  tell  me  that  you  have  a  secret  of  such  a 
kind  that  it  cannot  be  revealed  to  an  angel,  to  the  woman  who 
has  educated  you — to  your  second  mother! 

PAULINE 

Oh!  If  you  are  going  to  be  vexed,  I  shall  get  off  to  bed. 
I  used  to  think  that  a  father's  heart  would  be  a  place  of 
unfailing  refuge  for  a  daughter. 

THE  GENERAL 
You  silly  child !   Come,  I  am  going  to  be  in  a  good  humor. 

PAULINE 

How  kind  you  are!  But  listen!  Suppose  I  were  in  love 
with  the  son  of  one  of  those  whom  you  detest? 

THE  GENERAL  (rising  abruptly  to  his  feet  and  repulsing  her) 
I  should  detest  you ! 


THE  STEPMOTHER  65 

PAULINE 

And 'this  is  what  you  call  being  good  humored?  (Gertrude 
appears.) 

THE  GENERAL 

My  child,  there  are  feelings  in  my  heart  which  you  should 
never  rouse  in  me;  you  ought  to  know  this.  They  are  my 
very  life.  Do  you  wish  to  be  the  death  of  your  father  ? 

PAULINE 
Oh! 

THE  GENERAL 

Dear  child !  I  have  had  my  day.  My  lot,  with  you  and  Ger- 
trude at  my  side,  is  an  enviable  one.  But,  however  sweet  and 
charming  is  my  life,  I  would  quit  it  without  regret,  if  by  that 
means  I  could  render  you  happy;  for  happiness  is  a  debt  we 
owe  to  those  who  owe  to  us  their  existence. 

PAULINE  (noticing  the  door  ajar,  aside) 
Ah  !  she  is  listening.     (Aloud)   Father,  I  didn't  mean  what 
I  paid,  but  suppose  I  felt  a  love  of  that  kind  and  it  was  so 
violent  that  I  was  likely  to  die  of  it  ? 

THE  GENERAL 

It  would  be  best  for  you  to  toll  me  nothing  about  it,  and 
wait  for  your  happiness  until  my  death.  And  yet,  since  there 
is  nothing  more  sacred,  nothing  more  dear  next  to  God  and 
country,  than  children  to  their  parents,  children  in  their  turn 
ought  to  hold  sacred  their  parents'  wishes  and  never  to  dis- 
obey them,  even  after  their  death.  If  you  do  not  remain 
faithful  to  this  hatred  of  mine,  I  think  I  should  come  forth 
from  my  grave  to  curse  you ! 

PAULINE  (kissing  her  father) 

Oh !  you  had,  bad  man !  At  any  rate,  I  shall  now  find  out 
whether  you  can  keep  a  secret  or  not.  Swear  to  me  on  your 
honor  that  you'll  not  repeat  a  syllable  of  what  I  told  you. 


66  THE  STEPMOTHER 

THE  GENERAL 

I  promise  you  that.  But  what  reason  have  you  for  dis- 
trusting Gertrude? 

PAULINE 
If  I  told  you,  you  would  not  believe  it. 

THE  GENERAL 
Are  you  trying  to  torture  your  father  ? 

PAULINE 

No.  But  which  do  you  place  first, — this  hatred  for  traitors, 
or  your  own  honor  ? 

THE  GENERAL 

They  are  both  first  with  me,  for  they  are  based  upon  a 
common  principle. 

PAULINE 

Very  well ;  if  you  throw  away  your  honor  by  violating  your 
oath,  you  may  as  well  throw  away  your  hatred.  That  is  all  I 
wanted  to  find  out. 

THE  GENERAL 

If  women  are  angelic,  they  have  in  them  also  something  of 
the  diabolical.  Tell  me,  who  has  filled  the  head  of  such  an 
innocent  girl  as  you  are  with  ideas  like  these?  This  is  the 
way  they  lead  us  by  the — 

PAULINE  (interrupting  him) 
Good-night,  father. 

THE  GENERAL 
You  naughty  child ! 

PAULINE 

Keep  my  secret,  or  I  will  bring  you  a  son-in-law  that  will 
drive  you  wild.  (Enters  her  own  apartment.) 


THE  STEPMOTHER  67 

SCENE  EIGHTH. 

THE  GENERAL  (alone} 

There  must  certainly  be  some  key  to  this  enigma !    It  must 
be  discovered !   Yes,  and  Gertrude  shall  discover  it ! 

(Scene  curtain.) 


SCENE  NINTH. 

• 

(Pauline's  chamber;  a  small  plain  room  with  a  bed  in  the 
centre  and  a  round  table  at  the  left;  the  entrance  is  at  the 
right,  but  there  is  a  secret  entrance  on  the  left.) 

PAULINE 

At  last  I  am  alone!  At  last  I  can  be  natural!  Married? 
My  Ferdinand  married?  If  this  is  so,  he  is  the  falsest, 
foulest,  vilest  of  men  !  And  I  could  kill  him  !  Kill  him  ?  But 
I  myself  could  not  survive  one  hour  the  knowledge  that  he 
was  actually  married.  My  stepmother  I  detest!  and  if  she 
becomes  my  enemy,  there  will  be  war  between  us,  and  war  in 
earnest.  It  would  be  terrible,  for  I  should  tell  my  father  all 
I  know.  (She  looks  at  her  watch.)  Half-past  eleven,  and  he 
cannot  come  before  midnight,  when  the  whole  household  is 
asleep.  Poor  Ferdinand!  He  has  to  risk  his  life  for  a  few 
minutes'  chat  with  her  he  loves !  That  is  what  I  call  true  love ! 
Such  perils  men  will  not  undergo  for  every  woman !  But  what 
would  not  I  undergo  for  him !  If  my  father  surprised  us,  I 
would  be  the  one  to  take  the  first  blow.  Oh !  To  suspect  the 
man  you  love  is  to  suffer  greater  torment  than  to  lose  him  5 
If  he  dies,  you  can  follow  him  in  death ;  but  doubt — is  the 
cruelest  of  separations ! — Ah !  I  hear  him. 


68  THE  STEPMOTHER 

SCENE  TENTH. 

FERDINAND  AND  PAULINE  (who  locks  the  door) 
Are  you  married  ? 

FERDINAND 
What  a  joke !    Wouldn't  I  have  told  you  ? 

PAULINE 

Ah  !  (She  sinks  back  on  a  chair,  then  falls  upon  her  knees.) 
Holy  Virgin,  what  vows  shall  I  make  to  thee?  (She  kisses 
Ferdinand's  hand.)  And  you,  a  thousand  blessings  on  your 
head ! 

FERDINAND 
Who  could  have  told  you  such  a  foolish  thing  ? 

PAULINE 
My  stepmother. 

FERDINAND 

Why,  she  knows  all  about  me,  and  if  she  did  not,  she  would 
set  spies  to  discover  all;  for  suspicion  with  such  women  as 
that  is  certitude !  Listen,  Pauline,  moments  now  are  precious. 
It  was  Madame  de  Grandchamp  who  brought  me  into  this 
house. 

PAULINE 
And  why? 

FERDINAND 
Because  she  is  in  love  with  me. 

PAULINE 
How  horrible !    And  what  of  my  father  ? 

FERDINAND 
She  was  in  love  with  me  before  her  marriage. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  69 

PAULINE 
She  is  in  love  with  you;  but  you,  are  you  in  love  with  her? 

FERDINAND 

Do  you  think  if  I  were,  I  should  have  remained  in  this 
house  ? 

PAULINE 
And  she  is  still  in  love  with  you? 

FERDINAND 

Yes,  unhappily  she  is !  I  ought  to  tell  you  that  she  was  at 
one  time  beloved  by  me;  but  to-day  I  hate  her  from  the  bot- 
tom of  my  heart,  and  I  sometimes  ask  myself  why.  Is  it 
because  I  am  in  love  with  you,  and  every  genuine  and  pure 
love  is  by  nature  exclusive  ?  Is  it  because  the  contrast  between 
an  angel  of  purity,  such  as  you,  and  a  devil  like  her  excites 
in  me  just  as  much  hatred  towards  her  as  it  rouses  love 
towards  you,  my  joy,  my  bliss,  my  beauteous  treasure?  I 
cannot  say.  But  I  hate  her,  and  I  love  you  so  much  that  I 
should  not  regret  dying  if  your  father  killed  me ;  for  one  talk 
with  you,  one  hour  spent  in  this  chamber  by  your  side,  seems, 
even  when  it  is  passed  away,  a  whole  lifetime  to  me. 

PAULINE 

Oh,  say  those  dear  words  again !  For  they  bring  back  my 
confidence  once  more.  After  hearing  you  speak  thus,  I  for- 
give you  the  wrong  you  have  done  me  in  telling  that  I  am 
not  your  first  and  only  love,  as  you  are  mine.  It  is  but  a 
lost  illusion,  that  is  all !  Do  not  be  vexed  with  me.  Young 
girls  are  foolish,  they  have  no  ambition  but  in  their  love,  and 
they  would  fain  rule  over  the  past  as  they  rule  over  the  future 
of  their  beloved !  But  you  hate  her !  And  in  that  word,  you 
give  to  me  more  proof  of  love  than  you  have  given  me  for  the 
two  years  that  we  have  loved.  If  only  you  knew  with  what 
cruelty  this  stepmother  has  put  me  on  the  rack,  by  her  ques- 
tions !  But  I  will  be  avenged ! 


70  THE  STEPMOTHER 

FERDINAND 

You  must  be  very  careful !  She  is  a  very  dangerous  woman ! 
She  rules  your  father.  She  is  a  woman  who  will  fight  to  the 
death ! 

PAULINE 
To  the  death !    That  is  as  I  wish  it ! 

FERDINAND 

Be  prudent,  dear  Pauline!  We  are  going  to  act  in  har- 
mony, are  we  not?  Well,  my  love,  the  prosecuting  attorney 
is  of  opinion  that  if  we  would  triumph  over  the  difficulties 
that  prevent  our  union,  we  must  have  fortitude  enough  to 
part  for  some  time. 

PAULINE 
Oh !    Give  me  two  days  and  I  will  win  over  my  father ! 

FERDINAND 

But  you  do  not  know  Madame  de  Grandchamp.  She  has 
gone  too  far  to  leave  off  without  ruining  you,  and  to  do  that 
she  will  go  to  any  lengths.  But  I  will  not  go  away  without 
giving  you  what  may  prove  most  effective  weapons  against 
her. 

PAULINE 
Oh,  give  them,  give  them  to  me ! 

FERDINAND 

Not  yet.  And  you  must  promise  me  not  to  make  use  of 
them,  unless  your  life  is  in  danger;  for  what  I  am  doing  is 
certainly  a  breach  of  confidence.  But  it  is  for  your  sake  I 
do  it. 

PAULINE 
Tell  me  what  it  is? 

FERDINAND 
To-morrow  I  shall  put  into  your  hands  the  letters  which 


THE  STEPMOTHER  71 

she  wrote  to  me,  some  of  them  before,  some  of  them  after  her 
marriage.  Pauline,  do  not  read  them !  Swear  this  to  me,  in 
the  name  of  our  love,  in  the  name  of  our  happiness !  It  will 
be  sufficient,  should  it  ever  become  absolutely  necessary,  that 
she  knows  that  they  are  in  your  possession;  at  that  moment 
you  will  see  her  trembling  and  groveling  at  your  feet,  for 
all  her  machinations  then  are  foiled.  But  do  not  use  them 
excepting  as  a  last  resort,  and  keep  them  well  concealed. 

PAULINE 
What  a  terrible  duel  it  will  be ! 

FERDINAND 

Terrible !  But,  Pauline,  be  courageous,  as  you  have  so  far 
been,  in  keeping  the  secret  of  our  love;  do  not  acknowledge 
it,  until  you  find  it  no  longer  possible  to  deny  it. 

PAULINE 

Oh,  why  did  your  father  betray  the  Emperor?  If  fathers 
knew  how  their  children  would  be  punished  for  the  sins  of 
thqir  parents,  there  would  be  none  but  good  men ! 

FERDINAND 

Perhaps  this  sad  interview  will  prove  the  last  moment  of 
happiness  we  shall  have ! 

PAULINE  (aside) 

I  will  rejoin  him,  if  he  leaves  me — (Aloud)  See,  I  no  longer 
weep,  I  am  full  of  courage!  But  tell  me,  will  your  friend 
know  the  place  where  you  are  hiding? 

FERDINAND 
Eugene  will  be  our  confidential  friend. 

PAULINE 
And  the  letters? 


72  THE  STEPMOTHER 

FERDINAND 

To-morrow!     To-morrow!     But  where   will  you  conceal 
them? 

PAULINE 
I  shall  keep  them  about  me. 

FERDINAND 
Good !    Farewell ! 

PAULINE 
Oh  no,  not  yet ! 

FERDINAND 
'A  moment  more  may  ruin  us. 

PAULINE 

Or  unite  us  for  life.     Come,  let  me  show  you  out,  I  shall 
not  rest  until  I  see  you  in  the  garden.    Come ! 

FERDINAND 

Let  me  take  one  more  glance  at  this  maiden  chamber,  in 
which  you  will  think  of  me — where  all  things  speak  of  you. 

(Scene  curtain.) 


SCENE  ELEVENTH. 

(The  drawing-room  before  described.) 

PAULINE  on  the  veranda;  GERTRUDE  at  the  door  of  the  room. 

GERTRUDE 

She  is  seeing  him  out !  He  has  been  deceiving  me !  So  has 
she !  (Taking  Pauline  by  the  hand,  she  leads  her  to  the  front 
of  the  stage.)  Will  you  dare  tell  me,  now,  mademoiselle, 
that  you  do  not  love  him? 


THE  STEPMOTHER  73 

PAULINE 
Madame,  I  am  deceiving  no  one. 

GERTRUDE 
You  are  deceiving  your  father. 

PAULINE 

And  you,  madame? 

GERTRUDE 
So  both  of  you  are  against  me — Oh,  I  shall — 

PAULINE 
You  shall  do  nothing,  either  against  me  or  against  him. 

GERTRUDE 

Do  not  compel  me  to  show  my  power !  You  must  be  obedient 
to  your  father,  and — he  is  obedient  to  me. 

PAULINE 
We  shall  see ! 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 

Her  coolness  makes  my  blood  boil.  My  brain  reels! 
(Aloud)  Do  you  know  that  I  would  rather  die  than  live  with- 
out him? 

PAULINE 

And  so  would  I,  madame.  But  I  am  free.  I  have  not 
sworn  as  you  have  to  be  faithful  to  a  husband — And  your  hus- 
band is  my  father ! 

GERTRUDE  (kneeling  before  Pauline) 
What  have  I  done  to  you?    I  have  loved  you,  I  have  edu- 
cated you,  I  have  been  a  good  mother  to  you. 

PAULINE 
Be  a  faithful  wife,  and  I  will  say  no  more. 


74  THE  STEPMOTHER 

GERTRUDE 

Nay !    Speak !    Say  all  you  like — Ah '    the  struggle  has 
begun. 


SCENE  TWELFTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  THE  GENERAL. 

THE  GENERAL 
How  is  this?    What  is  going  on  here? 

GERTRUDE  (to  Pauline) 

You  must  feign  sickness.  Come  lie  down.  (She  makes 
her  lie  down.)  I  happened,  my  dear,  to  hear  moans.  Our 
dear  child  was  calling  for  help ;  she  was  almost  suffocated  by 
the  flowers  in  her  bedroom. 

PAULINE 

Yes,  papa,  Marguerite  had  forgotten  to  take  away  the  vase 
of  flowers,  and  I  almost  died. 

GERTRUDE 

Come,  my  daughter,  come  into  the  open  air.  (They  go  to- 
wards the  door.) 

THE  GENERAL 
Stay  a  moment.    What  have  you  done  with  the  flowers  ? 

PAULINE 
I  do  not  know  where  Madame  has  put  them. 

GERTRUDE 

I  threw  them  into  the  garden.  (The  General  abruptly 
rushes  out,  after  setting  his  candle  on  the  card  table.) 


THE  STEPMOTHER  75 

SCENE  THIRTEENTH. 
PAULINE  AND  GERTRUDE  ;  LATER,  THE  GENERAL. 

GERTRUDE 

Go  back  to  your  room,  lock  yourself  in !  I'll  take  all  the 
blame.  (Pauline  goes  to  her  room.)  I  will  wait  for  him  here. 
(She  goes  back  into  her  room.) 

THE  GENERAL  (coming  in  from  the  garden) 

I  can  find  the  vase  of  flowers  nowhere.  There  is  some  mys- 
tery in  all  these  things.  Gertrude? — There  is  no  one  here! 
Ah  !  Madame  de  Grandchamp,  you  will  have  to  tell  me ! — It 
is  a  nice  thing  that  I  should  be  deceived  by  both  wife  and 
daughter!  (He  takes  up  his  candlestick  and  goes  into  Ger- 
trude's room.) 

Curtain  to  the  Second  Act. 


76  THE  STEPMOTHER 


ACT  III. 


SCENE  FIRST. 
(Same  stage-setting.     Morning.) 
GEBTEUDE;  THEN  CHAMPAGNE. 

GEETRUDE  (brings  a  flower  vase  from  the  garden  and  puts 
it  down  on  the  table) 

What  trouble  I  had  to  allay  his  suspicions!  One  or  two 
more  scenes  like  that  and  I  shall  lose  control  of  him.  But  I 
have  gained  a  moment  of  liberty  now — provided  Pauline  does 
not  come  to  trouble  me !  She  must  be  asleep — she  went  to  bed 
so  late ! — would  it  be  possible  to  lock  her  in  her  room?  (She 
goes  to  the  door  of  Pauline's  chamber,  but  cannot  find  the 
key.)  I  am  afraid  not. 

CHAMPAGNE  (coming  in) 
M.  Ferdinand  is  coming,  madame. 

GERTBUDE 

Thank  yon,  Champagne.  He  went  to  bed  very  late,  did 
he  not? 

CHAMPAGNE 

M.  Ferdinand  makes  his  rounds,  as  you  know,  every  night, 
and  he  came  in  at  half-past  one  o'clock.  I  sleep  over  him, 
and  I  heard  him. 

GEETEUDE 
Does  he  ever  go  to  bed  later  than  that  ? 


THE  STEPMOTHER  77 

CHAMPAGNE 

Sometimes  he  does,  but  that  is  according  to  the  time  he 
makes  his  rounds. 

GEETRUDE 

Very  good.  Thank  you,  Champagne.  (Exit  Champagne.) 
As  the  reward  for  a  sacrifice  which  has  lasted  for  twelve 
years,  and  whose  agonies  can  only  be  understood  by  women, — 
for  what  man  can  guess  at  such  tortures! — what  have  I 
asked  ?  Very  little !  Merely  to  know  that  he  is  here,  near 
to  me,  without  any  satisfaction  saving,  from  time  to  time, 
a  furtive  glance  at  him.  I  wished  only  to  feel  sure  that  he 
would  wait  for  me.  To  feel  sure  of  this  is  enough  for  us, 
us  for  whom  a  pure,  a  heavenly  love  is  something  never  to 
be  realized.  Men  never  believe  that  they  are  loved  by  us, 
until  they  have  brought  us  down  into  the  mire!  And  this 
is  how  he  has  rewarded  me !  He  makes  nocturnal  assigna- 
tions with  this  stupid  girl !  Ah  !  He  may  as  well  pronounce 
my  sentence  of  death;  and  if  he  has  the  courage  to  do  so,  I 
shall  have  the  courage  at  once  to  bring  about  their  eternal 
separation ;  I  can  do  it !  But  here  he  comes !  I  feel  faint ! 
My  God !  Why  hast  Thou  made  me  love  with  such  desperate 
devotion  him  who  no  longer  loves  me ! 


SCENE  SECOND. 
FERDINAND  AND  GERTRUDE. 

GERTRUDE 

Yesterday  you  deceived  me.  You  came  here  last  night, 
through  this  room,  entering  by  means  of  a  false  key,  to  see 
Pauline,  at  the  risk  of  being  killed  by  M.  de  Grandchamp ! 
Oh !  you  needn't  lie  about  it.  I  saw  you,  and  I  came  upon 
Pauline  just  as  you  had  concluded  your  nocturnal  promenade 


78  THE  STEPMOTHER 

You  have  made  a  choice  upon  which  I  cannot  offer  you  my 
congratulations.  If  only  you  had  heard  us  discussing  the 
matter,  on  this  very  spot!  If  you  had  seen  the  boldness  of 
this  girl,  the  effrontery  with  which  she  denied  everything 
to  me,  you  would  have  trembled  for  your  future,  that  future 
which  belongs  to  me,  and  for  which  I  have  sold  myself,  body 
and  soul. 

FERDINAND  (aside) 

What  an  avalanche  of  reproach !  (Aloud)  Let  us  try, 
Gertrude,  both  of  us,  to  behave  wisely  in  this  matter.  Above 
all  things,  let  us  try  to  avoid  base  accusations.  I  shall  never 
forget  what  you  have  been  to  me;  I  still  entertain  towards 
you  a  friendship  which,  is  sincere,  unalterable  and  absolute ; 
but  I  no  longer  love  you. 

GERTRUDE 
That  is,  since  eighteen  months  ago. 

FERDINAND 
No.    Since  three  years  ago. 

GERTRUDE 

You  must  admit  then  that  I  have  the  right  to  detest  and 
make  war  upon  your  love  for  Pauline;  for  this  love  has  ren- 
dered you  a  traitor  and  criminal  towards  me. 

FERDINAND 
Madame ! 

GERTRUDE 

Yes,  you  have  deceived  me.  In  standing  as  you  did 
between  us  two,  you  made  me  assume  a  character  which  is 
not  mine.  I  am  violent  as  you  know.  Violence  is  frankness, 
and  I  am  living"  a  life  of  outrageous  duplicity.  Tell  me,  do 
you  know  what  it  is  to  have  to  invent  new  lies,  on  the  spur 
of  the  moment,  every  day,-«-to  live  with  a  dagger  at  your 


THE  STEPMOTHER  79 

heart  ?  Oh !  This  lying !  But  for  us,  it  is  the  Nemesis  of 
happiness.  It  is  disgraceful,  when  it  succeeds;  it  is  death, 
when  it  fails.  And  you,  other  men  envy  you  because  you 
make  women  love  you.  You  will  be  applauded,  while  I  shall 
be  despised.  And  you  do  not  wish  me  to  defend  myself !  You 
have  nothing  but  bitter  words  for  a  woman  who  has  hidden 
from  you  everything — her  remorse — her  tears!  I  have  suf- 
fered alone  and  without  you  the  wrath  of  heaven;  alone  and 
without  you  I  have  descended  into  my  soul's  abyss,  an  abyss 
which  has  been  opened  by  the  earthquake  of  sorrow;  and, 
while  repentance  was  gnawing  at  my  heart,  I  had  for  you 
nothing  but  looks  of  tenderness,  and  smiles  of  gaiety !  Come, 
Ferdinand,  do  not  despise  a  slave  who  lies  in  such  utter  sub- 
jection to  your  will ! 

FERDINAND  (aside) 

I  must  put  an  end  to  this.  (Aloud)  Listen  to'  me,  Ger- 
trude. When  first  we  met  it  was  youth  alone  united  us  in 
love.  I  then  yielded,  you  may  say,  to  an  impulse  of  that 
egotism  which  lies  at  the  bottom  of  every  man's  heart,  though 
he  knows  it  not,  concealed  under  the  flowers  of  youthful  pas- 
sion. There  is  so  much  turbulence  in  our  sentiments  at 
twenty-two!  The  infatuation  which  may  seize  us  then,  per- 
mits us  not  to  reflect  either  upon  life  as  it  really  is,  or  upon 
the  seriousness  of  its  issues — 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 
How  calmly  he  reasons  upon  it  all !    Ah !    It  is  infamous ! 

FERDINAND 

And  at  that  time  I  loved  you  freely,  with  entire  devotion ; 
but  afterwards — afterwards,  life  changed  its  aspect  for  both 
of  us.  If  you  ask  why  I  remained  under  a  roof  which  I  should 
never  have  approached,  it  is  because  I  chose  in  Pauline  the 
only  woman  with  whom  it  was  possible  for  me  to  end  my 
days.  Come,  Gertrude,  do  not  break  yourself  to  pieces  against 


80  THE  STEPMOTHER 

the  barrier  raised  by  heaven.  Do  not  torture  two  beings  who 
ask  you  to  yield  them  happiness,  and  who  will  ever  love  you 
dearly. 

GERTRUDE 

Ah,  I  see!  You  are  the  martyr — and  I — I  am  the  execu- 
tioner! Would  not  I  have  been  your  wife  to-day,  if  I  had 
not  set  your  happiness  above  the  satisfaction  of  my  love  ? 

FERDINAND 

Very  well!  Do  the  same  thing  to-day,  by  giving  me  my 
liberty. 

GERTRUDE 

You  mean  the  liberty  of  loving  some  one  else.  That  is  not 
the  way  you  spoke  twelve  years  ago.  Now  it  will  cost  my 
life. 

FERDINAND 

It  is  only  in  romance  that  people  die  of  love.  In  real  life 
they  seek  consolation. 

GERTRUDE 

Do  not  you  men  die  for  your  outraged  honor,  for  a  word, 
for  a  gesture?  Well,  there  are  women  who  die  for  their  love, 
that  is,  when  their  love  is  a  treasure  which  has  become  their 
all,  which  is  their  very  life !  And  I  am  one  of  these  women. 
Since  you  have  been  under  this  roof,  Ferdinand,  I  have  feared 
a  catastrophe  every  moment.  Yes.  And  I  always  carry 
about  me  something  which  will  enable  me  to  quit  this  life,  the 
very  moment  that  misfortune  falls  on  us.  See !  (She  shows 
Mm  a  phial.)  Now  you  know  the  life  that  I  have  lived ! 

FERDINAND 
Ah !  you  weep ! 

GERTRUDE 
I  swore  that  I  would  keep  back  these  tears,  but  they  are 


THE  STEPMOTHER  81 

strangling  me !  For  you — While  you  speak  to  me  with  that 
cold  politeness  which  is  your  last  insult, — your  last  insult  to 
a  love  which  you  repudiate  ! — you  show  not  the  least  sympathy 
towards  me!  You  would  like  to  see  me  dead,  for  then  you 
would  be  unhampered  by  me.  But,  Ferdinand,  you  do  not 
know  me !  I  am  willing  to  confess  everything  to  the  General, 
whom  I  would  not  deceive.  This  lying  fills  me  with  disgust ! 
I  shall  take  my  child,  I  shall  come  to  your  house,  we  will  flee 
together.  But  no  more  of  Pauline ! 

FERDINAND 
If  you  did  this,  I  would  kill  myself. 

GERTRUDE 

And  I,  too,  would  kill  myself !  Then  we  should  be  united 
in  death,  and  you  would  never  be  hers ! 

FERDINAND  (aside) 
What  an  infernal  creature! 

GERTRUDE 

And  there  is  this  consideration.  What  would  you  do  if  the 
barrier  which  separates  you  from  Pauline  were  never  broken 
down? 

FERDINAND 
Pauline  will  be  able  to  maintain  her  own  independence. 

GERTRUDE 
But  if  her  father  should  marry  her  to  some  one  else? 

FERDINAND 
It  would  be  my  death. 

GERTRUDE 
People  die  of  love  in  romance.    In  real  life  they  console 


82  THE  STEPMOTHER 

themselves  with  some  one  else,  and  a  man  only  does  his  duty 
by  being  true  to  her  with  whom  he  has  plighted  troth. 

THE  GENERAL  (outside) 
Gertrude !     Gertrude ! 

GERTRUDE 

I  hear  the  General  calling.  (The  General  appears  }  You 
will  then  finish  your  business  as  quickly  as  you  can,  M.  Fer- 
dinand, and  return  promptly;  I  shall  wait  for  you  here. 
(Exit  Ferdinand.) 


SCENE  THIRD. 
THE  GENERAL,  GERTRUDE,  THEN  PAULINE. 

THE  GENERAL 

This  is  rather  early  in  the  morning  for  you  to  be  holding 
a  conference  with  Ferdinand !  What  were  you  discussing  ? 
The  factory  ? 

GERTRUDE 

What  were  we  discussing?  I  will  tell  you;  for  you  are 
exactly  like  your  son;  when  once  you  begin  to  ask  questions, 
you  must  have  a  direct  answer.  I  had  an  impression  that 
Ferdinand  had  something  to  do  with  Pauline's  refusal  to 
marry  Godard. 

THE  GENERAL 
When  I  come  to  think  of  it,  you  were  perhaps  right. 

GERTRUDE 

I  got  M.  Ferdinand  to  come  here  for  the  purpose  of  clear- 
ing up  my  suspicions,  and  you  interrupted  us  at  the  very 
moment  when  I  seemed  likely  to  gain  some  information. 
'(Pauline  pushes  the  door  ajar  unseen.) 


THE  STEPMOTHER  83 

THE  GENERAL 
But  if  my  daughter  is  in  love  with  M.  Ferdinand — 

PAULINE  (aside) 
I  must  listen. 

THE  GENERAL 

I  do  not  see  why,  when  I  questioned  her  yesterday  in  a 
paternal  manner  and  with  absolute  kindness,  she  should  have 
concealed  it  from  me,  for  I  left  her  perfectly  free,  and  her 
feeling  for  him  would  be  absolutely  natural. 

GERTRUDE 

She  probably  misunderstood  you  or  you  questioned  her 
before  she  had  made  up  her  mind.  The  heart  of  a  young 
girl,  as  you  ought  to  know,  is  full  of  contradictions. 

THE  GENERAL 

And  why  should  there  not  be  something  between  them? 
This  young  man  toils  with  the  courage  of  a  lion,  he  is  the 
soul  of  honor,  he  is  probably  of  good  family. 

PAULINE  (aside) 
I  understand  the  situation  now.     (She  withdraws.) 

THE  GENERAL 

He  will  give  us  information  on  this  point.  He  is  above 
all  things  trustworthy ;  but  you  ought  to  know  his  family,  for 
it  was  you  who  discovered  this  treasure  for  us. 

GERTRUDE 

I  proposed  him  to  you  on  the  recommendation  of  old 
Madame  Morin. 

THE  GENERAE 
But  she  is  dead! 


84  THE  STEPMOTHER 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 

It  is  very  lucky  that  I  quoted  her  then!  (Aloud)  She 
told  me  that  his  mother  was  Madame  de  Charny  to  whom  he 
is  devoted ;  she  lives  in  Brittany  and  belongs  to  the  Charnys, 
an  old  family  of  that  country. 

THE  GENERAL 

The  Charnys.  Then  if  he  is  in  love  with  Pauline,  and 
Pauline  with  him,  I,  for  my  part,  would  prefer  him  to 
Godard  in  spite  of  Godard's  fortune.  Ferdinand  understands 
the  business  of  the  factory,  he  could  buy  the  whole  establish- 
ment with  the  dowry  of  Pauline.  That  would  be  understood. 
All  he  has  to  do  is  to  tell  us  where  he  comes  from,  who  he 
is,  and  who  his  father  was.  But  we  will  see  his  mother. 

GERTRUDE 
Madame  Charny? 

THE  GENERAL 

Yes,  Madame  Charny.  Doesn't  she  live  near  Saint-Melo? 
That  is  by  no  means  at  the  other  end  of  the  world. 

GERTRUDE 

Just  use  a  little  tact,  some  of  the  manoeuvres  of  an  old 
soldier,  and  be  very  gentle,  and  you  will  soon  learn  whether 
this  child — 

THE  GENERAL 

Why  should  I  worry  about  it?  Here  comes  Pauline  her- 
self. 


SCENE  FOURTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  MARGUERITE,  THEN  PAULINE. 

THE  GENERAL 
Ah !    It  is  you,  Marguerite.     You  came  near  causing  the 


THE  STEPMOTHER  85 

death  of  my  daughter  last  night  by  your  carelessness.     You 
forgot — 

MARGUERITE 
I,  General,  cause  the  death  of  my  child ! 

THE  GENERAL 

You  forgot  to  take  away  the  vase  containing  flowers  of  a 
strong  scent,  and  she  was  almost  suffocated. 

MARGUERITE 

Impossible!  I  took  away  the  vase  before  the  arrival  of 
M.  Godard,  and  Madame  must  have  seen  that  it  was  not 
there  while  we  were  dressing  Mademoiselle — 

GERTRUDE 
You  are  mistaken.    It  was  there. 

MARGUERITE  (aside) 

She's  a  hard  one.  (Aloud)  Does  not  Madame  remember 
that  she  wished  to  put  some  natural  flowers  in  Mademoiselle's 
hair,  and  that  she  remarked  about  the  vase  being  gone  ? 

GERTRUDE 
You  are  inventing  a  story.    But  where  did  you  carry  it? 

MARGUERITE 
To  the  foot  of  the  veranda. 

GERTRUDE  (to  the  General) 
Did  you  find  it  there  last  night  ? 

THE  GENERAL 
No. 

GERTRUDE 

I  took  it  from  the  chamber  myself  last  night,  and  put  it 


86  THE  STEPMOTHER 

where  it  now  stands.     (Points  to  the  vase  of  flowers  on  the 
veranda.) 

MARGUERITE 
Sir,  I  swear  to  you  by  my  eternal  salvation — 

GERTRUDE 
Do  not  swear.     (Catting.)     Pauline! 

THE  GENERAL 
Pauline!    (She  appears.) 

GERTRUDE 
Was  the  vase  of  flowers  in  your  room  last  night  ? 

PAULINE. 

Yes.    Marguerite,  my  dear  old  friend,  you  must  have  for- 
gotten it. 

MARGUERITE 

Why  don't  you  say,  Mademoiselle,  that  some  one  put  it 
there  on  purpose  to  make  you  ill ! 

GERTRUDE 
Whom  do  you  mean  by  some  one  ? 

THE  GENERAL 

You  old  fool,  if  your  memory  failed  you,  it  is  unnecessary 
for  you,  at  any  rate,  to  accuse  anybody  else. 

PAULINE  (aside  to  Marguerite) 

Keep  silence!     (Aloud)     Marguerite,  it  was  there!    You 
forgot  it. 

MARGUERITE 
It  is  true,  sir,  I  was  thinking  of  the  day  before  yesterday. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  87 

THE  GENERAL  (aside) 

She  has  been  in  my  service  for  twenty  years.  Strange  that 
she  should  be  so  persistent!  (Takes  Marguerite  aside.) 
Come !  What  did  you  say  about  the  flowers  for  my  daughter's 
hair? 

MARGUERITE  (while  Pauline  makes  signs  to  her) 

I  said  that,  sir, — I  am  so  old  that  my  memory  is  treach- 
erous. 

THE  GENERAL 

But  even  then,  why  did  you  suppose  that  any  one  in  the 
house  had  an  evil  thought  towards — 

PAULINE 

Say  no  more,  father!  She  has  so  much  affection  for  me, 
dear  Marguerite,  that  she  is  sometimes  distracted  by  it. 

MARGUERITE  (aside) 
I  am  quite  sure  I  took  away  the  flowers. 

THE  GENERAL  (aside) 

Why  should  my  wife  and  my  daughter  deceive  me?  An  old 
trooper  like  me  doesn't  permit  himself  to  be  caught  between 
two  fires,  and  there  is  something  decidedly  crooked — 

GERTRUDE 

Marguerite,  we  will  take  tea  in  this  room  when  M.  Godard 
comes  down.  Tell  Felix  to  bring  in  all  the  newspapers. 

MARGUERITE 
Very  good,  madame. 


88  THE  STEPMOTHER 

SCENE  FIFTH. 
GERTRUDE,  THE  GENERAL  AND  PAULINE. 

THE  GENERAL  (kissing  his  daughter) 
You've  not  even  said  good-morning  to  me,  you  unnatural 
child. 

PAULINE  (kissing  him) 

But,  you  began  by  scolding  about  nothing.  I  declare, 
father,  I  am  going  to  undertake  your  education.  It  is  quite 
time  for  you,  at  your  age,  to  control  yourself  a  little, — a 
young  man  would  not  be  so  quick  as  you  are !  You  have  ter- 
rified Marguerite,  and  when  women  are  in  fear,  they  tell  little 
falsehoods,  and  you  can  get  nothing  out  of  them. 

THE  GENERAL  (aside) 

I'm  in  for  it  now !  (Aloud)  Your  conduct,  young  lady, 
does  not  do  much  towards  promoting  my  self-control.  I  wish 
you  to  marry,  and  I  propose  a  man  who  is  young — 

PAULINE 
Handsome  and  well  educated ! 

THE  GENERAL 

Please  keep  silence,  when  your  father  addresses  you,  made- 
moiselle. A  man  who  possesses  a  magnificent  fortune,  at 
least  six  times  as  much  as  yours,  and  you  refuse  him.  You  are 
well  able  to  do  so,  because  I  leave  you  free  in  the  matter;  but 
if  you  do  not  care  for  Godard,  tell  me  who  it  is  you  choose, 
if  I  do  not  already  know. 

PAULINE 

Ah,  father,  you  are  much  more  clear-sighted  than  I  am. 
Tell  me  who  he  is  ? 

THE  GENERAL 
He  is  a  man  from  thirty  to  thirty-five  years  old,  who 


THE  STEPMOTHER  St 

pleases  me  much  more  than  Godard  does,  although  he  is 
without  fortune.  He  is  already  a  member  of  our  family. 

PAULINE 
I  don't  see  any  of  our  relations  here. 

THE  GENERAL 

I  wonder  what  you  can  have  against  this  poor  Ferdinand, 
that  you  should  be  unwilling — 

PAULINE.     ' 

Ah !  Who  has  been  telling  you  *iiis  story  ?  Ill  warrant 
that  it  is  Madame  de  Grandchamp. 

THE  GENERAL 

A  story  ?  I  suppose,  you  will  deny  the  truth  of  it !  Have 
/ou  never  thought  of  this  fine  young  fellow? 

PAULINE 
Never! 

GERTRUDE  (to  the  General) 
She  is  lying !    Just  look  at  her. 

PAULINE 

Madame  de  Grandchamp  has  doubtless  her  reasons  for 
supposing  that  I  have  an  attachment  for  my  father's  clerk. 
Oh !  I  see  how  it  is,  she  wishes  you  to  say :  "If  your  heart, 
my  daughter,  has  no  preference  for  any  one,  marry  Godard." 
(In  a  low  voice  to  Gertrude)  This,  madame,  is  an  atrocious 
move  !  To  make  me  abjure  my  love  in  my  father's  presence ! 
But  I  will  have  my  revenge. 

GERTRUDE  (aside  to  Pauline) 
As  you  choose  about  that ;  but  marry  Godard  you  shall ! 


90  THE  STEPMOTHER 

THE  GENERAL  (aside) 

Can  it  be  possible  that  these  two  are  at  variance  ?  I  must 
question  Ferdinand.  (Aloud)  What  were  you  saying  to 
each  other  ? 

GERTRUDE 

Your  daughter,  my  dear,  did  not  like  my  idea  that  she 
was  taken  with  a  subordinate ; '  she  is  deeply  humiliated  at 
the  thought. 

THE  GENERAL 

Am  I  to  understand,  then,  my  daughter,  that  you  are  not 
in  love  with  him? 

PAULINE 

Father,  I — I  do  not  ask  you  to  marry  me  to  any  one!  I 
am  perfectly  happy!  The  only  thing  which  God  has  given 
us  women,  as  our  very  own,  is  our  heart.  I  do  not  under- 
stand why  Madame  de  Granclchamp,  who  is  not  my  mother, 
should  interfere  with  my  feelings. 

GERTRUDE 

My  child,  I  desire  nothing  but  your  happiness.  I  am 
merely  your  stepmother,  I  know,  but  if  you  had  been  in  love 
with  Ferdinand,  I  should  have — 

THE  GENERAL  (kissing  Gertrude's  hand) 
How  good  you  are ! 

PAULINE  (aside) 

I  feel  as  if  T  were  strangled !  Ah !  If  I  could  only  undo 
her! 

GERTRUDE 

Yes,  I  should  have  thrown  myself  at  your  father's  feet, 
to  win  his  consent,  if  he  had  refused  it. 

THE  GENERAL 
Here  comes  Ferdinand.     (Aside)     I  shall  question  him  at 


THE  STEPMOTHER  91 

my  discretion;  and  then  perhaps  the  mystery  will  be  cleared 
up. 


SCENE  SIXTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  FERDINAND. 

THE  GENERAL  (to  Ferdinand) 

Come  here,  my  friend.  You  have  been  with  us  over  three 
years  now,  and  I  am  indebted  to  you  for  the  power  of  sleep- 
ing soundly  amid  all  the  cares  of  an  extensive  business.  You 
are  almost  as  much  as  I  am  the  master  of  my  factory.  You 
have  been  satisfied  with  a  salary,  pretty  large  it  is  true,  but 
scarcely  proportionate  perhaps  to  the  services  rendered  by 
you.  I  think  at  last  I  understand  the  motive  of  your  disin- 
terestedness. 

FERDINAND 

It  is  my  duty,  General. 

THE  GENERAL 

Granted;  but  does  not  the  heart  count  for  a  good  deal  ifl 
this?  Come  now,  Ferdinand,  you  know  my  way  of  consid- 
ering the  different  ranks  of  society,  and  the  distinctions  per- 
taining to  them.  We  are  all  the  sons  of  our  own  works.  I 
have  been  a  soldier.  You  may  therefore  have  full  confidence 
in  me.  They  have  told  me  all ;  how  you  love  a  certain  young 
person,  here  present.  If  you  desire  it,  she  shall  be  yours.  My 
wife  has  pleaded  your  cause,  and  I  must  acknowledge  that 
she  has  gained  it  before  the  tribunal  of  my  heart. 

FERDINAND 

General,  can  this  be  true?  Madame  de  Grandchamp  has 
pleaded  my  cause?  Ah,  madame!  (He  falls  on  his  Tcnees 
before  her.)  I  acknowledge  in  this  your  greatness  of  heart! 
You  are  sublime,  you  are  an  angel !  (Rising  and  rushing 
forward  to  Pauline.)  Pauline,  my  Pauline! 


92  THE  STEPMOTHER 

GERTRUDE  (to  the  General) 
I  guessed  aright;  he  is  in  love  with  Pauline. 

PAULINE 

Sir,  have  I  ever  given  you  the  right,  by  a  single  look,  or  by 
a  single  word,  to  utter  my  name  in  this  way  ?  No  one  could 
be  more  astonished  than  I  am  to  find  that  I  have  inspired 
you  with  sentiments  which  might  flatter  others,  but  which  I 
can  never  reciprocate;  I  have  a  higher  ambition. 

THE  GENERAL 

Pauline,  my  child,  you  are  more  than  severe.  Come,  tell 
me,  is  there  not  some  misunderstanding  here?  Ferdinand, 
come  here,  come  close  to  me. 

FERDINAND 

How  is  it,  mademoiselle,  when  your  stepmother,  and  your 
father  agree  ? 

PAULINE  (in  a  low  voice  to  Ferdinand) 
We  are  lost ! 

THE  GENERAL 

Now  I  am  going  to  act  the  tyrant.  Tell  me,  Ferdinand,  of 
course  your  family  is  an  honorable  one  ? 

PAULINE  (to  Ferdinand) 
You  hear  that ! 

THE  GENERAL 

Your  father  must  certainly  have  been  a  man  of  as  honor- 
able a  profession  as  mine  was;  my  father  was  sergeant  of 
the  watch. 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 
They  are  now  separated  forever. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  93 

FERDINAND 

Ah!  (To  Gertrude]  I  understand  your  move.  (To  the 
General)  General,  I  do  not  deny  that  once  in  a  dream,  long 
ago,  in  a  sweet  dream,  in  which  it  was  delicious  for  a  man 
poor  and  without  family  to  indulge  in — dreams  we  are  told 
are  all  the  fortune  that  ever  comes  to  the  unfortunate — I  do 
not  deny  that  I  once  regarded  it  as  a  piece  of  overwhelming 
happiness  to  become  a  member  of  your  family ;  but  the  recep- 
tion which  mademoiselle  accords  to  those  natural  hopes  of 
mine,  and  which  you  have  been  cruel  enough  to  make  me 
reveal,  is  such  that  at  the  present  moment  they  have  left  my 
heart,  never  again  to  return !  I  have  been  rudely  awakened 
from  that  dream,  General.  The  poor  man  has  his  pride,  which 
it  is  as  ungenerous  in  the  rich  man  to  wound,  as  it  would 
be  for  any  one  to  insult — mark  what  I  say — your  attachment 
to  Napoleon.  (In  a  low  voice  to  Gertrude)  You  are  playing 
a  terrible  part ! 

GERTRUDE   (aside  to  Ferdinand) 
She  shall  marry  Godard. 

THE  GENERAL 

Poor  young  man!  (To  Pauline)  He  is  everything  that 
is  good!  He  inspires  me  with  affection.  (He  takes  Ferdi- 
nand aside.}  If  I  were  in  your  place,  and  at  your  age,  I 
would  have — No,  no,  what  the  devil  am  I  saying? — After  all 
she  is  my  daughter ! 

FERDINAND 

General,  I  make  an  appeal  to  your  honor;  swear  that  you 
will  keep,  as  the  most  profound  secret,  what  I  am  going 
to  confide  to  you;  and  this  secrecy  must  extend  so  far  even 
as  to  Madame  de  Grandchamp. 

THE  GENERAL  (aside) 

What  is  this?  He  also,  like  my  daughter,  seems  to  dis- 
trust my  wife.  But,  by  heaven,  I  will  learn  what  it  means ! 


&4  THE  STEPMOTHER 

(Aloud)     I  consent;  you  have  the  word  of  a  man  who  has 
never  once  broken  a  promise  given. 

FERDINAND 

After  having  forced  me  to  reveal  that  which  I  had  buried 
in  the  recesses  of  my  heart,  and  after  I  have  been  thunder- 
struck, for  that  is  the  only  word  in  which  to  express  it,  by 
the  disdain  of  Mademoiselle  Pauline,  it  is  impossible  for  me 
/to  remain  here  any  longer.  I  shall  therefore  put  my  accounts 
in  order;  this  evening  I  shall  quit  this  place,  and  to-morrow 
will  leave  France  for  America,  if  I  can  find  a  ship  sailing 
from  Havre. 

THE  GENERAL  (aside) 

It  is  as  well  that  he  should  leave,  for  he  will  be  sure  to 
return.     (To  Ferdinand)     May  I  tell  this  to  my  daughter? 

FERDINAND 
Yes,  but  to  no  one  else. 

THE  GENERAL  (aside  to  Pauline) 

Pauline !  my  daughter,  you  have  so  cruelly  humiliated  this 
poor  youth,  that  the  factory  is  on  the  point  of  losing  its 
manager;  Ferdinand  is  to  leave  this  evening  for  America. 

PAULINE  (to  the  General) 

He  is  right,  father.  He  is  doing  of  his  own  accord,  what 
you  doubtless  would  have  advised  him  to  do. 

GERTRUDE  (to  Ferdinand) 
She  shall  many  Godard. 

FERDINAND  (to  Gertrude) 

If  I  do  not  punish  you  for  your  atrocious  conduct,  God 
Himself  will ! 


THE  STEPMOTHER  95 

THE  GENERAL  (to  Pauline) 
America  is  a  long  way  off  and  the  climate  is  deadly. 

PAULINE  (to  the  General) 
Many  a  fortune  is  made  there. 

THE  GENERAL  (aside) 

She  does  not  love  him.  (To  Ferdinand)  Ferdinand,  you 
must  not  leave  before  I  have  put  in  your  hands  sufficient  to 
start  you  on  the  road  to  fortune. 

FERDINAND 

I  thank  you,  General ;  but  what  is  due  me  will  be  sufficient. 
Moreover,  I  shall  not  be  missed  in  your  factor)7,  for  I  have 
trained  Champagne  so  thoroughly  as  a  foreman,  that  he  is 
skillful  enough  to  become  my  successor;  and  if  you  will  go 
with  me  to  the  factory,  you  will  see — 

THE  GENERAL 

I  will  gladly  accompany  you.  (Aside)  Everything  is  in 
such  a  muddle  here,  that  I  must  go  and  look  for  Vernon. 
The  advice  and  clear-sightedness  of  my  old  friend,  the  doctor, 
will  be  of  service  in  ferreting  out  what  it  is  that  disturbs  this 
household,  for  there  is  something  or  other.  Ferdinand,  I 
will  follow  you.  Ladies,  we  will  soon  be  back  again.  (Aside) 
There  is  something  or  other!  (The  General  follows  Ferdi- 
nand out.) 


SCENE  SEVENTH. 
GERTRUDE  AND  PAULINE. 

PAULINE  (locking  the  door) 

Madame,  do  you  consider  that  a  pure  love,  a  love  which 
comprises  and  enhances  all  human  happiness,  which  makes 


96  THE  STEPMOTHER 

us  understand  that  happiness  which  is  divine, — do  you  con- 
sider such  a  love  to  be  dearer  and  more  precious  to  us  than 
life? 

GERTRUDE 

You  have  been  reading  the  Nouvelle  Heloise,  my  dear. 
What  you  say  is  rather  stilted  in  diction,  but  it  is  nevertheless 
true. 

PAULINE 
.Well,  madame,  you  have  just  caused  me  to  commit  suicide. 

GERTRUDE 

The  very  act  you  would  have  been  happy  to  see  me  commit ; 
and  if  you  had  succeeded  in  forcing  me  to  it,  you  would  have 
felt  in  your  heart  the  joy  which  fills  mine  at  present. 

PAULINE 

'According  to  my  father,  war  between  civilized  nations  has 
its  laws;  but  the  war  which  you  wage  against  me,  madame, 
is  that  of  savages. 

GERTRUDE 

You  may  do  as  I  do,  if  you  can — but  you  can  do  nothing ! 
You  shall  marry  Godard.  He  is  a  very  good  match  for  you ; 
you  will  be  very  happy,  I  assure  you,  for  he  has  fine  qualities. 

PAULINE 
And  you  think  that  I  will  quietly  let  you  marry  Ferdinand  ? 

GERTRUDE 

After  the  few  words  which  we  have  exchanged  this  eve- 
ning, why  should  we  now  indulge  in  the  language  of  hypocrisy  ? 
I  was  in  love  with  Ferdinand,  my  dear  Pauline,  when  you 
were  but  eight  years  old. 

PAULINE 
But  now  you  are  more  than  thirty — and  I  am  still  young. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  97 

Moreover,  he  hates  you,  he  abhors  you !  He  has  told  me  so, 
and  he  wishes  to  have  nothing  to  do  with  a  woman  capable 
of  the  black  treachery  with  which  you  have  acted  towards 
my  father. 

GEETKDDE 

In  the  eyes  of  Ferdinand,  my  love  will  serve  as  my  vindi- 
cation. 

PAULINE 

He  shares  the  feelings  which  I  have  for  you;  he  despises 
you,  madame. 

GERTRUDE 

Do  you  really  believe  it?  Well,  if  it  so,  my  dear,  I  have 
one  more  reason  for  the  position  I  take,  for  if  he  refuses  to 
become  my  husband,  to  gratify  his  love,  Pauline,  you  will 
force  me  to  marry  him  for  the  sake  of  satisfying  my  revenge. 
When  he  came  to  this  house,  was  he  not  aware  that  I  was 
here? 

PAULINE 

You  probably  caught  him  by  some  such  snare  as  you  have 
just  set  for  us.  and  into  which  both  of  us  have  fallen. 

GERTRUDE 

Now,  my  child,  a  single  word  more  will  put  an  end  to  every- 
thing between  us.  Have  you  not  said  a  hundred  times,  a 
thousand  times,  in  moments  when  you  were  all  feeling,  all 
soul,  that  you  would  make  the  greatest  sacrifices  for  Ferdi- 
nand? 

PAULINE. 
Yes,  madame. 

GERTRUDE. 

You  said  you  would  leave  your  father,  would  flee  from 
France ;  you  would  give  your  life,  your  honor,  your  salvation 
for  Ferdinand? 


Yes,  and  if  there  is  anything  else  that  I  can  offer  besides 
myself — this  world  and  heaven ! 

GERTRUDE 

Let  me  tell  you,  then,  that  all  that  you  have  wished  to  do, 
I  have  done !  It  is  enough  therefore  to  assure  you  that  noth- 
ing, not  even  death  itself,  can  arrest  my  course. 

PAULINE 

In  saying  this,  you  give  me  the  right  to  defend  myself 
before  my  father  (Aside)  0  Ferdinand!  Our  love, 
(Gertrude  takes  a  seat  on  the  sofa  during  the  soliloquy  of 
Pauline)  as  she  has  said,  is  greater  than  life.  (To  Ger- 
trude) Madame,  you  must  repair  all  the  evil  that  you  have 
done  to  me;  the  sole  difficulties  which  lie  in  the  way  of  my 
marriage  with  Ferdinand,  you  must  overcome.  Yes,  you, 
who  have  complete  control  over  my  father,  you  must  make 
him  forego  his  hatred  of  the  son  of  General  Marcandal. 

GERTRUDE 
And  do  you  really  mean  that  ? 

PAULINE 

Yes,  madame. 

GERTRUDE 

And  what  means  do  you  possess  formidable  enough  to  com- 
pel me  to  do  so  ? 

PAULINE 
Are  we  not  carrying  on  a  warfare  of  savages? 

GERTRUDE 

Say  rather,  of  women,  which  is  even  more  terrible !  Sav- 
ages torment  the  body  alone;  while  we  direct  our  arrows 


TEE  STEPMOTHER  99 

against  the  heart,  the  self-love,  the  pride,  the  soul  of  those 
whom  we  attack  in  the  very  midst  of  their  happiness. 

PAULINE 

That  is  truly  said.  It  is  the  whole  woman-nature  that  I 
attack.  Therefore,  my  dear  and  truly  honored  stepmother, 
you  must  eliminate  by  to-morrow,  and  not  later,  all  the 
obstacles  that  stand  between  me  and  Ferdinand;  or  you  may 
be  sure  my  father  shall  learn  from  me  the  whole  course  of 
your  conduct,  both  before  and  after  your  marriage. 

GERTRUDE 

Ah !  That  is  the  way  you  are  going  to  do  it !  Poor  child ! 
He  will  never  believe  you. 

PAULINE 

Oh,  I  know  the  domination  you  exercise  over  my  father; 
but  I  have  proofs. 

GERTRUDE 
Proofs !     Proofs ! 

PAULINE 

I  went  to  Ferdinand's  house — I  am  very  inquisitive — and 
I  found  there  your  letters,  madame ;  I  took  from  among  them 
those  which  would  convince  even  the  blindness  of  my  father, 
for  they  will  prove  to  him — 

GERTRUDE 
What  will  they  prove? 

PAULINE 

Everything ! 

GERTRUDE 

But,  this  will  be,  unhappy  child,  both  theft  and  murder! 
For  think  of  his  age. 


100  THE  STEPMOTHER 

PAULINE 

And  have  not  you  accomplished  the  murder  of  my  happi- 
ness? Have  you  not  forced  me  to  deny,  both  to  my  father 
and  to  Ferdinand,  my  love,  my  glory,  my  life  ? 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 

This  is  a  mere  trick;  she  knows  nothing.  (Aloud)  This  is 
a  clever  stratagem,  but  I  never  wrote  a  single  line.  What 
you  say  is  not  true.  It  is  impossible.  Where  are  the  letters  ? 

PAULINE 
They  are  in  my  possession. 

GERTRUDE 
In  your  room  ? 

PAULINE 
They  are  where  you  can  never  reach  them. 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 

Madness  with  its  wildest  dreams  spins  through  my  brain ! 
My  fingers  itch  for  murder.  It  is  in  such  moments  as  this 
that  men  kill  each  other !  How  gladly  would  I  kill  her !  My 
God !  do  not  forsake  me  !  Leave  me  my  reason  ! — (Aloud) 
Wait  a  moment. 

PAULINE  (aside) 

My  thanks  to  you,  Ferdinand !  I  see  how  much  you  love 
me;  I  have  been  able  to  pay  back  to  her  all  the  wrongs  she 
did  us  a  short  time  ago — and — she  shall  save  us  from  all  we 
feared ! 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 

She  must  have  them  about  her, — but  how  can  I  be  sure  of 
that?  Ah!  (Aloud)  Pauline!  If  you  have  had  these  letters 
for  long,  you  must  have  known  that  I  was  in  love  with  Fer- 
dinand. You  can  only  lately  have  received  them. 


Copyright,  /yo2,  by  J.  D.  A. 


Gertrude   and   Pauline. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  101 

PAULINE 
They  came  into  my  hands  this  morning. 

GERTRUDE 
You  have  not  read  them  all? 

PAULINE 
Enough  to  find  out  that  they  would  ruin  you. 

GERTRUDE 

Pauline,  life  is  just  beginning  for  you.  (A  knock  is  heard.) 
Ferdinand  is  the  first  man,  young,  well  educated  and  dis- 
tinguished, for  he  is  distinguished,  by  whom  you  have  been 
attracted ;  but  there  are  many  others  in  the  world  such  as  he 
is.  Ferdinand  has  been  in  a  certain  sense  under  the  same 
roof  with  you,  and  you  have  seen  him  every  day ;  the  first  im- 
pulses of  your  heart  have  therefore  directed  you  to  him.  I 
understand  this,  and  it  is  quite  natural.  Had  I  been  in  your 
place  I  should  doubtless  have  experienced  the  same  feelings. 
But,  my  dear,  you  know  not  the  ways  either  of  the  world  or  of 
society.  And  if,  like  so  many  other  women,  you  have  been 
deceiving  yourself — for  we  women,  ah,  how  often  are  we  thus 
deceived ! —  you  still  can  make  another  choice.  But  for  me 
the  deed  has  been  done,  I  have  no  other  choice  to  make.  Fer- 
dinand is  all  I  have,  for  I  have  passed  my  thirtieth  year,  and 
I  have  sacrificed  to  him  what  I  should  have  kept  unsullied — 
the  honor  of  an  aged  man.  The  field  is  clear  for  you,  you  may 
yet  love  some  other  man  more  ardently  than  you  can  love  to- 
day— this  is  my  experience.  Pauline,  child,  give  him  up,  and 
you  will  learn  what  a  devoted  slave  you  will  have  in  me !  You 
will  have  more  than  a  mother,  more  than  a  friend,  you  will 
have  the  unstinted  help  of  a  soul  that  is  lost !  Oh !  listen  to 
me !  (She  Tcneels,  and  raises  her  hands  to  Pauline's  corsage.) 
Behold  me  at  your  feet,  acknowledging  you  my  rival !  Is  this 
sufficient  humiliation  for  me?  Oh,  if  you  only  knew  what 
this  costs  a  woman  to  undergo !  Relent !  Relent,  and  save  me. 


102  THE  STEPMOTHER 

(A  loud  knocking  is  heard,  she  takes  advantage  of  Pauline's 
confusion  to  feel  for  the  letters.)  Give  back  my  life  to  me! 
(Aside)  She  has  them! 

PAULINE 

Oh,  leave  me,  madame !  Will  you  force  me  to  call  for 
some  one?  (She  pushes  Gertrude  away,  and  proceeds  to  open 
the  door.) 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 

I  was  not  deceived,  she  has  them  about  her ;  but  I  must  not 
leave  them  with  her  one  single  hour. 


SCENE  EIGHTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  THE  GENERAL  AND  VERNON. 

THE  GENERAL 

You  two,  locked  in  together!      Why    did    you    call  out, 
Pauline  ? 

VERNON 
How  pale  you  are,  my  child !    Let  me  feel  your  pulse. 

THE  GENERAL  (to  Gertrude) 
And  you  also  seem  to  be  very  much  excited, 

GERTRUDE 

There  was  a  joke  between  us  and  we  were  indulging  in  a 
laugh ;  weren't  we,  Pauline  ?    You  were  laughing,  my  pet  ? 

PAULINE 
Yes,  papa.    Dear  mamma  and  I  were  in  a  gale  of  laughter. 

VERNON   (in  a  low  voice  to  Pauline) 
That's  a  pretty  big  lie ! 


THE  STEPMOTHER  103 

THE  GENERAL 
Didn't  you  hear  us  knocking? 

PAULINE 

We  heard  quite  plainly,  papa;  but  we  didn't  know  it  was 
you. 

THE  GENERAL  (in  a  low  voice  to  Vernon) 

They  seem  to  be  leagued  against  me.  (Aloud)  But  what 
was  it  all  about? 

GERTRUDE 

Dear  husband,  you  always  want  to  know  everything!  We 
were  speaking  for  the  moment  about  the  tenants,  about  some 
acquaintances  of  ours. — But  let  me  go  and  ring  for  tea. 

THE  GENERAL 
But  tell  me  all  about  it? 

GERTRUDE 

Why  this  is  sheer  tyranny!  To  tell  the  truth,  we  locked 
ourselves  in  so  that  no  one  should  disturb  us.  Is  that  plain 
enough  ? 

VERNON 
I  should  think  it  quite  plain. 

GERTRUDE  (whispering  to  the  General) 
I  wished  to  worm  her  secrets  out  of  your  daughter,  for  it 
is  evident  that  she  has  some  secrets!  And  you  come  inter- 
rupting us,  while  I  am  working  in  your  service — for  Pauline 
is  not  my  daughter ;  you  arrive,  as  if  you  were  charging  a  hos- 
tile squadron,  and  interrupt  us,  at  the  very  moment  I  was 
going  to  learn  something. 

THE  GENERAL 

Madame  the  Countess  of  Grandchamp,  ever  since  the  arrival 
of  Godard — 


104  THE  STEPMOTHER 

GERTRUDE 
Ah  !  yes,  Godard.  Well !  he  is  here  still. 

THE  GENERAL 

Do  not  ridicule  my  words!  Ever  since  yesterday  nothing 
has  gone  as  usual !  By  God !  I'd  like  to  know — 

GERTRUDE 

Sir,  this  oath  is  the  first  I  have  ever  heard  from  you. 
Felix,  bring  in  the  tea.  (To  the  General}  You  are  tired,  it 
seems,  of  twelve  years  of  happiness  ? 

THE  GENERAL 

I  am  not,  and  never  will  he  a  tyrant.  A  little  time  ago  I 
came  unexpectedly  upon  you  and  Ferdinand  engaged  in  con- 
versation, and  I  felt  I  was  in  the  way.  Again,  I  come  here 
and  you  are  locked  in  with  my  daughter,  and  my  appearance 
seemed  to  put  you  out.  And  to  cap  all,  last  night — 

VERNON 

Come,  General,  you  can  quarrel  with  Madame  as  much  as 
you  like,  hut  not  before  other  people.  (Godard  is  heard  ap- 
proaching.} I  hear  Godard.  (Whispers  to  the  General}  Is 
this  keeping  your  promise  to  me  ?  In  treating  with  women — I 
am  bound  as  a  doctor  to  admit  it — you  must  leave  them  to  be- 
tray themselves ;  while  at  the  same  time  you  watch  them  care- 
fully; otherwise  your  violence  draws  forth  their  tears,  and 
when  once  the  hydraulic  machinery  begins  to  play,  they 
drown  a  man  as  if  they  had  the  strength  of  a  triple  Hercules ! 


SCENE  NINTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  GODARD. 

GODARD 
Ladies,  I  came  once  before  to  present  my  compliments  and 


THE  STEPMOTHER  105 

respects  to  you,  but  I  found  the  door  closed.  General,  I  wish 
you  good-day.  ( The  General  takes  up  a  newspaper  and  waves 
his  hand  in  greeting.)  Ah!  Here  is  my  adversary  of  yester- 
day's game.  Have  you  come  to  take  your  revenge,  doctor  ? 

VERNON 
No,  I  came  to  take  some  tea. 

GODARD 

Ah!  I  see  you  keep  up  here  the  custom  of  the  English, 
Eussians  and  Chinese. 

PAULINE 
Would  you  prefer  some  coffee  ? 

GERTRUDE 
Marguerite,  bring  in  some  coffee. 

GODARD 

No,  no ;  allow  me  to  have  some  tea ;  I  will,  for  once,  deviate 
from  my  every-day  custom.  Moreover,  you  have  your  luncheon 
at  noon,  I  see,  and  a  cup  of  coffee  with  cream  would  take 
away  my  appetite  for  that  meal.  And  then  the  English,  the 
Eussians  and  the  Chinese  are  not  entirely  incorrect  in  taste. 

,  VERNON 
Tea,  sir,  is  an  excellent  thing. 

GODARD 
Yes,  when  it  is  good. 

PAULINE 
This  is  caravan  tea. 

GERTRUDE 

Doctor,  have  you  seen  the  papers?  (To  Pauline)  Go  and 
talk  to  M.  de  Eimonville,  my  daughter;  I,  myself,  will  make 
tea. 


106  THE  STEPMOTHER 

GODARD 

Perhaps  Mile,  de  Grandchamp  likes  my  conversation  no 
better  than  my  person  ? 

PAULINE 
You  are  mistaken,  sir. 

THE  GENERAL 
Godard — 

PAULINE 

Should  you  do  me  the  favor  of  no  longer  seeking  me  in 
marriage,  you  would  still  possess  in  my  eyes  qualities  of  suffi- 
cient brilliancy  to  captivate  the  young  ladies  Boudeville,  Clin- 
ville,  Derville,  etc. 

GODARD 

That  is  enough,  mademoiselle.  Ah !  How  you  do  ridicule 
an  unfortunate  lover,  in  spite  of  his  income  of  forty  thousand 
francs !  The  longer  I  stay  here,  the  more  I  regret  it.  What 
a  lucky  fellow  M.  Ferdinand  de  Charny  is ! 

PAULINE 

Lucky  ?  Why  is  he  lucky  ?  P.oor  fellow !  Does  his  good  for- 
tune consist  in  the  fact  that  he  is  my  father's  clerk? 

GERTRUDE 
M.  de  Eimonville — 

THE  GENERAL 
Godard — 

GERTRUDE 
M.  de  Eimonville — 

THE  GENERAL 

Godard,  my  wife  is  speaking  to  you. 

GERTRUDE 
Do  you  like  much  or  little  sugar  ? 


THE  STEPMOTHER  107 

GODAED 
A  moderate  quantity. 

GERTRUDE 
Not  much  cream,  I  suppose  ? 

GODARD 

On  the  contrary,  plenty  of  cream,  countess.  (To  Pauline} 
Ah  !  M.  Ferdinand  is  not  then,  after  all,  the  man  who — whom 
you  have  distinguished  by  your  favor?  I  can  at  least  assure 
you  that  he  is  very  much  to  the  taste  of  your  stepmother. 

PAULINE  (aside} 
How  annoying  these  inquisitive  provincials  are ! 

GODARD  (aside} 

It  is  fair  that  I  should  amuse  myself  a  little  at  her  expense 
before  I  take  leave.  I  must  get  something  out  of  this  visit. 

GERTRUDE 

M.  de  Rimonville,  if  you  desire  anything  solid,  there  are 
sandwiches  here. 

GODARD 
Thank  you,  madame. 

GERTRUDE  (whispering  to  Godard) 
Your  cause  is  not  wholly  lost. 

GODARD 

0  madame !  I  have  thought  a  great  deal  over  my  rejection 
by  Mile,  de  Grandchamp. 

GERTRUDE 

Ah  !  (To  the  doctor)  Doctor,  you  will  take  yours  as  usual, 
I  suppose  ? 


108  THE  STEPMOTHER 

VEBNON 
If  you  please,  madame. 

GODARD  (to  Pauline) 

Did  you  say,  "poor  fellow,"  mademoiselle?  for  M.  Ferdi- 
nand is  not  so  poor  as  you  think  him.  He  is  richer  than  I  am ! 

PAULINE 
How  do  you  know  that  ? 

GODARD 

I  am  certain  of  it,  and  I  will  tell  you  why.  This  M.  Ferdi- 
nand, whom  you  think  you  know,  is  an  exceedingly  crafty 
fellow — 

PAULINE  (aside) 
Can  he  possibly  know  his  real  name  ? 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 

A  few  drops  of  opium  in  her  tea  will  put  her  to  sleep,  and 
I  shall  be  saved. 

GODARD  (to  Pauline) 

You  cannot  deny  the  authority  of  him  who  has  put  me  on 
the  track. 

PAULINE 
Oh,  sir !  Kindly  tell— 

GODARD 

It  was  the  prosecuting  attorney.  I  remembered  that  at  the 
house  of  the  Boudevilles  it  was  said  that  your  clerk — 

PAULINE  (aside) 
He  is  putting  me  on  the  rack. 

GERTRUDE  (offering  a  cup  to  Pauline) 
Here,  Pauline. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  109 

VERNON  (aside) 

Am  I  dreaming?  I  thought  I  saw  her  put  something  into 
Pauline's  cup. 

PAULINE  (to  Oodard) 
And  what  did  they  say  ? 

GODARD 

Ah !  Ah !  How  attentive  you  are !  I  should  have  been  ex- 
ceedingly flattered  to  think  that  you  put  on  that  air  when  any 
one  was  talking  about  me,  as  I  am  now  talking  about  M. 
Ferdinand  de  Charny. 

PAULINE 
What  a  strange  taste  this  tea  has !  You  find  yours  good  ? 

GODARD 

You  talk  about  the  tea  in  order  to  distract  my  attention 
from  the  interest  you  take  in  wha't  I  am  telling  you.  I  see 
through  it  all !  Well,  come  now,  I  am  going  to  astonish  you. 
You  must  know  that  M.  Ferdinand  is — 

PAULINE 
Is—? 

GODARD 
A  millionaire. 

PAULINE 
You  are  joking,  M.  Godard. 

GODARD 

On  my  word  of  honor,  mademoiselle,  he  possesses  a  treasure. 
(Aside)  She  is  madly  in  love  with  him. 

PAULINE  (aside) 

How  this  fool  startled  me.  (She  rises  from  her  seat  and 
Wernon  takes  the  teacup  from  her  hand.) 


110  THE  STEPMOTHER 

VERNON 
Let  me  take  it,  my  child. 

THE  GENERAL  (to  his  wife) 
What  ails  you,  dearest?  you  seem — 

YERNON  (who  has  retained  Pauline's  cup  and  returned  his 

own  in  its  place  to  Gertrude.    Aside) 
It  is  laudanum ;  fortunately  the  dose  is  light ;  but  it  is  very 
certain  that  something  is  about  to  happen.      (To   Godard) 
M.  Godard,  you  are  a  crafty  fox.     ( Godard  takes  out  his  hand- 
Tcer chief  as  if  to  blow  his  nose.)     Ah! 

GODARD 
Doctor,  I  bear  no  ill-will. 

YERNON 

Listen !    Do  you  think  that  you  could  carry  off  the  General 
to  the  factory  and  keep  him  there  for  an  hour? 

GODARD 
I  would  like  to  have  that  youngster  to  help  me. 

YERNON 
He  is  at  school  until  dinner-time. 

GODARD 
Why  do  you  wish  me  to  do  this  ? 

YERNON 

Now  I  beg  of  you,  for  you  are  a  good  fellow,  to  do  as  I  bid 
yon ;  it  is  necessary.    Do  you  love  Pauline  ? 

GODARD 
I  did  love  her  yesterday,  but  this  morning —     (Aside)    I 


THE  STEPMOTHER  111 

must  find  out  what  he  is  concealing  from  me.  (To  Vernon) 
It  shall  be  done !  I  will  go  on  to  the  veranda  and  come  back 
again  with  a  message  that  Ferdinand  sends  for  the  General. 
You  may  rely  upon  me.  Ah !  Here  is  Ferdinand  himself,  that 
is  all  right!  (Goes  on  the  veranda.) 

PAULINE 

"Pis  peculiar,  how  drowsy  I  feel.     (She  lies  down  on  the 
divan;  Ferdinand  appears  and  talks  with  Godard.) 


SCENE  TENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  FERDINAND. 

FERDINAND 

General,  it  will  he  necessary  for  you  to  come  to  the  office 
and  the  factory  in  order  to  verify  my  accounts. 

THE  GENERAL 
That  is  only  just  to  you. 

PAULINE  (drowsily)' 
Ferdinand ! 

GODARD 

Ah,  General,  I'll  take  advantage  of  this  occasion  to  visit 
your  establishment  with  you,  for  I  have  never  seen  it. 

THE  GENERAL 
Very  good,  come  along  Godard. 

GODARD 
De  Rimonville. 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 
If  they  go  away,  fortune  will  favor  nie  indeed. 


112  THE  STEPMOTHER 

VEENON   (who  has  overheard  her;  aside) 
Fortune,  in  this  case,  is  represented  by  me — 


SCENE  ELEVENTH. 
GERTRUDE,  VERNON,  PAULINE,  AND  LATER  MARGUERITE. 

GERTRUDE 
Doctor,  would  you  like  another  cup  of  tea? 

VERNON 

Thank  you,  but  I  am  so  deep  in  the  election  returns  that  I 
have  not  yet  finished  my  first  cup. 

GERTRUDE   (pointing  to  Pauline^ 
Poor  child,  you  see  she  is  sleeping? 

VERNON 
How  is  this?    She  is  sleeping? 

GERTRUDE 

It  is  no  wonder.  Imagine,  doctor,  she  did  not  go  to  sleep 
until  three  o'clock  this  morning.  We  were  greatly  disturbed 
last  night. 

VERNON 
Let  me  assist  you  to  carry  her  to  her  room. 

GERTRUDE 

It  is  not  necessary.  Marguerite,  help  me  put  this  poor  child; 
to  bed.  She.  will  be  more  comfortable  there. 

(Marguerite  comes  forward  and  assists  Gertrude  to  carry 
Pauline  away.) 


THE  STEPMOTHER  113 

SCENE  TWELFTH. 
VERNON,  AND  FELIX  (who  enters  at  this  juncture) 

VEENON 
Felix! 

FELIX 
Is  there  anything  I  can  do  for  you,  sir? 

VEENON 

Is  there  a  closet  anywhere  here  in  which  I  can  lock  up 
something? 

FELIX   (pointing  to  the  closet) 
Here  is  a  place,  sir. 

VEENON 

Good!  Felix,  don't  say  a  word  of  this  to  a  single  soul. 
(Aside)  He  will  be  sure  to  remember  it.  (Aloud)  I  am  play- 
ing a  trick  on  the  General,  and  the  trick  will  fail  if  you  say 
anything. 

FELIX 

I  will  be  as  dumb  as  a  fish.  (The  doctor  takes  from  him 
the  key  of  the  closet.) 

VEENON 

And  now  leave  me  alone  with  your  mistress,  who  is  coming 
back  here,  and  be  on  the  watch  that  no  one  interrupts  us  for 
a  moment. 

FELIX  (going  out) 

Marguerite  was  right;  there  is  something  in  the  wind,  that's 
certain. 

MARGUEEITE  (returning) 

There  is  nothing  the  matter.  Mademoiselle  is  sleeping 
quietly.  (Exit.) 


114  THE  STEPMOTHER 

SCENE  THIRTEENTH. 

VERNON  (alone) 

What  can  have  set  by  the  ears  two  women  who  have  hith- 
erto lived  in  peace  ?  All  doctors,  little  though  they  be  philoso- 
phers, can  tell.  The  poor  General,  who  all  his  life  has  had 
no  other  idea  excepting  that  of  escaping  the  common  lot !  'Yet 
I  see  no  one  here  likely  to  cause  him  jealousy,  but  myself  and 
Ferdinand.  It  is  not  probable  that  I  am  the  man;  but  Fer- 
dinand— Yet  I  have  so  far  noticed  nothing — I  hear  her  com- 
ing !  Now  for  the  tug-of-war ! 


SCENE  FOURTEENTH. 
VERNON  AND  GERTRUDE. 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 

I  have  them ! — I  am  going  to  burn  them  in  my  chamber. 
(She  meets  Vernon.)  Ah! 

VERNON 
Madame,  I  have  sent  everybody  away. 

GERTRUDE 
May  I  ask  you  why? 

VERNON 

In  order  that  we  may  have  our  explanation  without  wit- 
nesses. 

GERTRUDE 

Explanation!  By  what  right  do  you — you,  the  parasite 
of  the  house,  pretend  to  have  an  explanation  with  the  Cow 
tesse  de  Grandchamp? 


THE  STEPMOTHER  115 

VERNON 

I,  a  parasite  ?  Madame !  I  have  an  income  of  ten  thousand 
francs,  besides  my  pension;  I  have  the  rank  of  general,  and 
my  fortune  will  be  bequeathed  to  the  children  of  my  old 
friend !  A  parasite  indeed !  You  forget  that  I  am  not  only 
here  as  a  friend  but  as  a  doctor,  and — you  poured  certain  drops 
of  laudanum  into  Pauline's  tea. 

GERTRUDE 
I? 

VERNON 
I  saw  you  do  it,  and  I  have  the  cup. 

GERTRUDE 
You  have  the  cup  ?    Why,  I  washed  it  myself ! 

VERNON 

Yes,  you  washed  mine,  which  I  gave  you  in  exchange  for 
that  of  Pauline!  I  was  not  reading  the  newspaper,  I  was 
watching  you. 

GERTRUDE 
Oh!  sir,  how  unworthy  of  you! 

VERNON 

You  must  confess  that  what  I  did  then  is  of  great  service 
to  you,  for  if  you  had  by  the  effect  of  that  draught  brought 
Pauline  to  the  brink  of  the  grave,  you  would  have  been  very 
glad  of  my  services. 

GERTRUDE 

The  brink  of  the  grave — why,  doctor,  I  put  in  only  a  very 
few  drops. 

VERNON 
You  admit,  then,  that  you  put  opium  in  her  tea. 


11C  THE  STEPMOTHER 

GERTRUDE 
Doctor — this  is  outrageous! 

VERNON 

That  I  have  obtained  a  confession  from  you  ?  Every  woman 
under  the  same  circumstances  would  have  said  the  same  thing. 
I  know  it  by  experience.  But  that  is  not  all.  You  have  sev- 
eral other  things  to  confide  in  me. 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 

He  is  a  spy !  The  only  thing  I  can  do  is  to  make  him  my 
accomplice.  (Aloud)  Doctor,  you  are  too  useful  to  me  to 
admit  of  our  quarreling.  In  a  moment,  if  you  will  wait  here, 
I  will  return  and  speak  frankly  to  you.  (She  goes  into  her 
chamber  and  locks  the  door.) 

VERNON 

She  has  turned  the  key !  I  am  caught,  tricked !  I  cannot 
after  all  resort  to  violence.  What  is  she  doing  ?  She  is  going 
to  hide  her  flask  of  opium.  A  man  is  always  wrong  when  he 
undertakes  to  discharge  for  a  friend  the  offices  which  my  old 
friend,  this  poor  General,  expects  of  me.  She  is  going  to 
entangle  me — Ah !  Here  she  comes. 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 

I  have  burnt  them !  There  is  not  a  trace  left — I  am  saved  I 
[(Aloud)  Doctor! 

VERNON 
Madame  ? 

GERTRUDE 

My  stepdaughter  Pauline,  whom  you  believed  to  be  an 
innocent  girl,  an  angel,  had  carried  off  furtively  and  crimi- 
nally something  whose  discovery  would  have  compromised  the 
honor  and  the  life  of  four  persons. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  117 

VERNON 

Four !  (Aside)  That  is  herself,  the  General — Ah !  her  son, 
perhaps — and  the  unknown. 

GERTRUDE 

This  secret,  concerning  which  she  is  forced  to  keep  silence, 
even  though  it  imperilled  her  life  to  do  so — 

VERNON 
I  don't  quite  catch  your  meaning. 

GERTRUDE 

In  short,  the  proofs  of  this  secret  are  now  destroyed !  And 
3rou,  doctor,  who  love  us  all,  you  would  be  as  base,  as  in- 
famous as  she  is — even  more  so,  because  you  are  a  man,  and 
have  not  the  insensate  passions  of  a  woman ! — You  would  be 
a  monster  if  you  were  to  take  another  step  along  the  path  on 
which  you  have  now  started — 

VERNON 

You  mean  that  for  intimidation?  Madame,  since  civilized 
society  first  sprang  into  being,  the  seed  which  you  are  sow- 
ing has  produced  a  crop  whose  name  is  crime. 

GERTRUDE 

But  there  are  four  lives  at  stake ;  remember  that.  (Aside) 
He  is  giving  way.  (Aloud)  In  spite  of  this  danger  I  demand 
that  you  will  assist  me  in  maintaining  peace  here,  and  that 
you  will  immediately  go  and  get  something  by  which  Pauline 
may  be  roused  from  her  slumber.  And  you  will  explain,  if 
necessary,  her  drowsiness  to  the  General.  Further,  you  will 
give  me  back  the  cup,  for  I  am  sure  you  intend  to  do  so,  and 
each  step  that  we  take  together  in  this  affair  shall  be  fully 
explained  to  you, 

VEENON 

Madame ! 


118  THE  STEPMOTHER 

GERTRUDE 
We  must  separate  now,  for  the  General  will  soon  be  back. 

VERNON  (aside) 

I  shall  still  look  after  you!    I  have  now  a  weapon  that  I 
can  use  and —  (Exit) . 


SCENE  FIFTEENTH. 

GERTRUDE  (alone,  leaning  against  the  closet  in  which  the  cup 
is  locked  up) 

Where  can  he  have  hidden  that  cup  ? 

Curtain  to  the  Third  Act. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  119 


ACT  IV. 


SCENE  FIRST. 
(Pauline's  chamber.) 

GERTRUDE  AND  PAULINE  (the  latter  sleeping  on  a  large  arm- 
chair on  the  left). 

GERTRUDE  (cautiously  entering) 

She  is  sleeping,  and  the  doctor  said  that  she  would  wake  up 
at  once.  Her  slumber  alarms  me.  This  then  is  the  girl  that  he 
is  in  love  with.  I  do  not  find  her  pretty  at  all.  Oh,  yes,  after 
all,  she  is  beautiful !  But  how  is  it  that  men  do  not  see  that 
beauty  is  nothing  but  a  promise,  and  that  love  is  the — (some 
one  knocks).  How  is  this;  there  are  people  coming. 

VERNON  (outside) 
May  I  come  in,  Pauline? 

GERTRUDE 
It  is  the  doctor. 


SCENE  SECOND. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  VERNON. 

GERTRUDE 
You  told  me  that  she  would  soon  awake. 

VERNON 
Don't  be  alarmed.     (Calling  aloud)    Pauline!   Pauline! 


120  THE  STEPMOTHER 

PAULINE   (awakening) 

0  M.  Vernon!     Where  am  I?     Ah!     In  my  own  room. 
What  has  happened  to  me  ? 

VERNON 

My  child,  you  fell  asleep  while  you  were  taking  your  tea. 
Madame  de  Grandchamp  feared  as  I  did  that  this  was  the 
beginning  of  a  sickness;  but  it  is  no  such  thing.  It  is  alto- 
gether, as  it  seems  to  me,  the  consequence  of  a  night  without 
sleep. 

GERTRUDE 

And  now,  Pauline,  how  do  you  feel  ? 

PAULINE 

1  have  been  sleeping— and  madame  was  here  while  I  slept ! 
(She  starts  up;  puts  her  hand  upon  her  bosom.}    Ah!   it  is 
outrageous!     (To  Vernon)    Doctor,  can  you  have  been  an 
accomplice  ? 

GERTRUDE 
An  accomplice  in  what?    What  were  you  going  to  say? 

VERNON 

I !  my  child !  Could  you  suppose  that  I  was  the  accomplice 
of  an  evil  action  wrought  against  you,  whom  I  love  as  if  you 
were  my  daughter  ?  Don't  speak  of  such  a  thing  as  that !  But 
come,  tell  me  ? 

PAULINE 
There  is  nothing,  doctor,  nothing  to  say ! 

GERTRUDE 
Let  me  speak  a  few  words  to  her. 

VERNON  (aside) 
What  possible  motive  can  there  be  for  a  young  child  to 


THE  STEPMOTHER  121 

keep  silence,  when  she  is  the  victim  of  such  an  act  of  treachery 
as  this? 

GERTRUDE  (in  a  low  voice  to  Pauline) 

So  you  see,  Pauline,  you  didn't  long  keep  in  your  possession 
the  proofs  which  you  intended  taking  to  your  father  in  your 
ridiculous  accusation  of  me ! 

PAULINE 

I  understand  all;  you  gave  me  a  narcotic  in  order  to  de- 
prive me  of  them. 

GERTRUDE 

We  are  equally  inquisitive.  I  have  done  to  you  what  you 
did  to  me  in  Ferdinand's  apartments. 

PAULINE 

You  are  triumphant  now,  madame,  but  it  will  soon  be  my 
turn. 

GERTRUDE 
The  war,  then,  is  to  continue  ? 

PAULINE 

War,  madame?  Call  it  a  duel!  One  or  the  other  of  us 
must  go. 

GERTEUDE 
You  are  tragic. 

VERNON  (aside) 

There  appears  to  be  no  outbreak  between  them,  nor  the 
least  misunderstanding ! — But  stay,  an  idea  strikes  me ;  sup- 
pose I  go  and  look  for  Ferdinand?  (He  prepares  to  go  out.) 

GERTRUDE 
Doctor ! 


122  THE  STEPMOTHER 

VERNON 
Madame  ? 

GERTRUDE 

We  must  have  a  talk  together.     (Whispering)     I  shall  not 
leave  you  until  you  have  given  me  back — 

VERNON 
I  stated  to  you  the  sole  condition — 

PAULINE 
Doctor ! 

VERNON  (going  to  her) 
My  child? 

PAULINE 

Are  you  aware  that  my  sleep  just  now  was  not  a  natural 
one? 

VERNON 

Yes,  you  were  put  to  sleep  by  your  stepmother.    I  have  proof 
of  it.    But  do  you  know  the  reason  why  ? 

PAULINE 
Oh !  doctor,  it  is — 

GERTRUDE 
Doctor ! 

PAULINE 
Later  on,  I  will  tell  you  all. 

VERNON 

Already  from  each  one  of  them  I  have  learned  something 
of  what  lies  beneath.    Ah !  poor  General ! 

GERTRUDE 
I  am  waiting,  doctor.  (He  bows  and  escorts  Gertrude  out.) 


THE  STEPMOTHER  123 

SCENE  THIRD. 

PAULINE  (alone;  she  rings) 

Yes,  the  only  alternative  left  me  is  to  flee  with  him ;  if  we 
continue  this  conflict,  my  stepmother  and  I,  it  can  but  result  in 
my  father's  dishonor.  Would  it  not  be  better  to  disobey  him  ? 
Then  I  will  write  to  him — I  will  be  generous,  because  my 
triumph  over  her  will  be  complete — I  will  let  my  father  still 
believe  in  her,  and  will  explain  my  flight  by  attributing  it  to 
the  hatred  which  he  bears  to  the  name  of  Marcandal  and  to 
my  love  for  Ferdinand. 


SCENE  FOURTH. 
PAULINE  AND  MARGUERITE. 

MARGUERITE 
Does  mademoiselle  feel  well  again  ? 

PAULINE 

Yes,  I  am  well  enough  in  body ;  but  in  mind — Oh,  I  am  in 
despair!  My  poor  Marguerite,  unfortunate  is  the  girl  who 
has  lost  her  mother — 

MARGUERITE 

And  whose  father  has  for  his  second  wife  such  a  woman 
as  Madame  de  Grandchamp.  But  tell  me,  mademoiselle,  am 
I  not  to  you  a  humble  and  devoted  mother  ?  My  affection  for 
you  as  a  nurse  has  grown  in  proportion  to  the  hate  with  which 
this  stepmother  regards  you. 

PAULINE 

Yes,  Marguerite,  you  may  believe  it,  but  you  delude  your- 
self. Your  love  can  never  be  as  great  as  her  hatred. 


124  THE  STEPMOTHER 

MARGUERITE 
Oh !  mademoiselle !    If  you  would  oniy  put  me  to  the  proof ! 

PAULINE 
Keally  ? — Would  you  leave  France  for  me  ? 

MARGUERITE 
To  be  with  you,  I  would  travel  to  the  Indies. 

PAULINE 
And  would  you  start  at  once  ? 

MARGUERITE 
At  once ! — My  baggage  is  not  heavy. 

PAULINE 
Well,  Marguerite,  we  will  start  to-night,  and  secretly. 

MARGUERITE 
But  why  is  this? 

PAULINE 

You  ask  me  why?  Do  you  not  know  that  Madame  de 
Grandchamp  put  me  to  sleep  with  opium? 

MARGUERITE 

I  know  it.  mademoiselle,  and  Doctor  Vernon  knows  it  also, 
for  Felix  told  me  that  he  put  under  lock  and  key  your  tea- 
cup.— But  why  did  she  do  it  ? 

PAULINE 

Say  not  a  word  about  it,  if  you  love  me !  And  if  you  are 
as  devoted  to  me  as  you  profess  to  be,  go  to  your  room  and 
gather  together  all  that  you  possess,  so  quietly  that  none  shall 
suspect  that  you  are  preparing  for  a  journey.  We  will  start 
after  midnight.  You  must  now  take  from  me  here,  and  carry 


THE  STEPMOTHER  125 

to  your  room,  my  jewels  and  all  that  I  shall  need  for  a  long 
journey.  Use  the  utmost  caution ;  for  if  my  stepmother  had 
the  least  idea  of  what  we  are  doing,  I  should  be  ruined. 


Ruined ! — But,  mademoiselle,  what    is    come    over    you  ? 
Think  seriously  before  you  leave  your  home. 

PAULINE 
Do  you  wish  to  see  me  die? 

MAKGUERITE 
Die? — Oh,  mademoiselle,  I  will  at  once  obey  your  wishes. 

PAULINE 

Marguerite,  tell  M.  Ferdinand  to  bring  me  my  year's  allow- 
ance; bid  him  come  this  moment. 

MARGUERITE 
He  was  under  your  windows  when  I  came  in. 

PAULINE  (aside) 

Under  my  windows ! — doubtless  he  thought  that  he  would 
never  see  me  again. — Poor  Ferdinand!     (Exit  Marguerite.) 


SCENE  FIFTH. 

PAULINE  (alone) 

When  I  think  of  leaving  my  father's  house,  it  at  once 
comes  home  to  me  that  my  father  will  seek  me  many  a  day, 
far  and  wide. — With  what  treasures  love  ought  to  repay  me, 
for  such  sacrifices,  for  I  abandon  to  follow  Ferdinand  my 
country,  my  father,  and  my  home!  But  at  any  rate,  this 


126  THE  STEPMOTHER 

shameless  woman  will  lose  him  without  hope  of  restoration ! 
Moreover,  I  shall  return !  The  doctor  and  M.  Ramel  will  win 
for  me  forgiveness  from  my  father.  I  think  I  hear  the  step  of 
Ferdinand ! — Yes,  it  is  actually  he ! 


SCENE  SIXTH. 
PAULINE  AND  FERDINAND. 

PAULINE 
Oh,  my  love,  my  Ferdinand ! 

FERDINAND 

And  I  thought  that  I  should  never  see  you  again !  Marguer- 
ite, I  see,  knows  all. 

PAULINE 

She  knows  nothing  yet;  but  this  night  she  shall  learn  of 
our  flight,  for  we  shall  be  free ;  and  you  shall  take  your  wife 
with  you. 

FERDINAND 
Oh,  Pauline,  do  not  deceive  me ! 

PAULINE 

I  was  making  arrangements  to  rejoin  you  in  your  place  of 
exile ;  but  this  odious  woman  has  hurried  on  my  resolution. — 
There  is  no  merit  in  what  I  am  doing,  it  is  a  question  of  life 
and  death  to  me. 

FERDINAND 
Of  life  and  death  ! — Tell  me  what  has  she  been  doing  ? 

PAULINE 
She  almost  poisoned  me ;  she  drugged  me,  in  order  to  take 


THE  STEPMOTHER  127 

the  letters  I  carried  about  me!  By  what  she  has  dared  to 
do,  in  order  to  keep  you  for  herself,  I  judge  what  she  yet  may 
•do.  If  therefore  we  wish  to  be  united,  our  only  hope  lies  in 
flight.  Therefore  let  us  not  say  farewell !  This  night  we 
must  find  some  refuge  or  other — But  where  ?  That  lies  with 
you. 

FERDINAND 
Ah !    These  words, — how  wild  with  joy  they  make  me ! 

PAULINE 

Ferdinand !  Take  every  precaution ;  hurry  to  Louviers,  go 
to  the  house  of  your  friend,  the  prosecuting  attorney;  secure 
our  passports,  and  a  carriage  with  fast  horses.  I  fear  that 
my  father,  urged  on  by  this  stepmother,  may  try  to  overtake 
us !  May  he  fail  to  do  so ;  he  would  kill  us,  for  I  am  telling 
him  in  this  letter  the  fatal  secret  of  your  birth  which  compels 
me  thus  to  leave  him. 

FERDINAND 

Dismiss  your  fears.  Eugene  completed  his  preparations 
for  my  departure  yesterday.  Here  is  the  sum  of  money  which 
your  father  owed  me.  (He  shows  her  a  pocket-book.)  Give 
me  your  receipt.  (He  puts  down  some  money  on  the  table.) 
I  have  only  to  give  in  my  balance  sheet  in  order  to  be  free. 
We  shall  reach  Rouen  in  three  hours,  and  at  Havre  we  shall 
take  an  American  ship.  Eugene  has  sent  a  trusty  man  to 
secure  me  a  passage  on  board.  The  officers  of  the  vessel  will 
think  it  only  natural  that  a  man  should  take  his  wife  abroad 
with  him,  so  we  shall  meet  with  no  obstacle — 


SCENE  SEVENTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  GERTRUDE. 

GERTRUDE 


Excepting  me. 


128  THE  STEPMOTHER 

PAULINE 
We  are  lost! 

GERTRUDE 

So  you  are  going  to  start  without  telling  me,  Ferdinand? 
Oh,  indeed ! — But  I  have  heard  it  all. 

FERDINAND  (to  Pauline) 

Mademoiselle,  have  the  goodness  to  give  me  your  receipt,  it 
is  indispensable  in  completing  the  account  which  I  must  give 
to  your  father  before  leaving.  (To  Gertrude)  Madame,  you 
may  be  able,  perhaps,  to  prevent  mademoiselle  from  going 
away ;  but  I  can  no  longer  remain  here,  and  I  must  absolutely 
start  to-night. 

GERTRUDE 
You  must  stay  here,  and  you  shall  stay  here,  sir  I 

FERDINAND 
Against  my  will  ? 

GERTRUDE 

What  mademoiselle  wishes  to  do,  I  myself  will  do,  and  with- 
out fear.  I  will  make  M.  de  Grandchamp  come  into  this  very 
room,  and  you  will  at  once  see  that  he  will  compel  you  to  leave, 
but — with  me  and  my  child.  (Felix  appears.)  Beg  M.  de 
Grandchamp  to  come  here. 

FERDINAND  (to  Pauline) 

I  see  her  object.  Detain  her  here,  while  I  overtake  Felix, 
and  prevent  him  from  speaking  to  the  General !  Eugene  will 
tell  you  how  you  must  act  after  my  departure.  When  once 
we  have  left  this  place,  Gertrude  will  be  powerless  to  oppose 
us.  (To  Gertrude)  Farewell,  madame.  You  lately  made  an 
attack  on  Pauline's  life,  and  by  this  act  have  broken  the  last 
ties  that  bound  me  to  your  friendship. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  129 

GERTRUDE 

You  have  nothing  but  accusations  for  me !  But  you  do  not 
know  what  mademoiselle  intended  telling  her  father  concern- 
ing you  and  me. 

FERDINAND 

I  love  her,  and  will  love  her  all  my  life ;  I  shall  be  able  to 
defend  her  against  you,  and  I  prize  her  high  enough  to  suffer 
banishment  in  order  to  obtain  her.  Farewell. 

PAULINE 
Dear,  dear  Ferdinand! 


SCENE  EIGHTH. 
GERTRUDE  AND  PAULINE. 

GERTRUDE 

Now  that  we  are  alone,  do  you  know  why  I  have  summoned 
your  father?  It  is  in  order  to  tell  him  the  name  and  family 
of  Ferdinand. 

PAULINE 

Madame,  what  are  you  going  to  do  ?  My  father,  as  soon  as 
he  learns  that  the  son  of  General  Marcandal  has  won  the  love 
of  his  daughter,  will  get  to  Havre  as  quickly  as  Ferdinand 
does.  He  will  come  up  with  him,  and  then — 

GERTRUDE 

I  would  sooner  see  Ferdinand  dead  than  united  to  any  one 
but  myself,  especially  when  I  feel  in  my  heart  as  much  hatred 
for  that  other  one  as  I  have  love  for  him.  Such  is  my  final 
word  in  our  mortal  duel. 

PAULINE 
Madame,  I  am  now  at  your  feet,  as  you  but  now  were  at 


130  THE  STEPMOTHER 

mine.    Let  us  slay  each  other  if  you  like,  but  let  us  not  murder 
him !    Let  his  life  be  spared,  though  it  be  at  the  cost  of  mine ! 

GERTRUDE 
Will  you  give  him  up  ? 

PAFUNE 
I  will,  madame. 

GERTRUDE  (she  lets  her  handkerchief  fall  in  the  excitement  of 

her  passionate  speech) 

You  are  deceiving  me !  You  tell  me  this,  because  he  loves 
you,  because  he  has  already  insulted  me  by  avowing  it,  and 
because  you  believe  that  he  will  not  love  me  any  longer.  Now 
this  will  not  do,  Pauline,  you  must  give  me  some  pledges  of 
your  sincerity. 

PAULINE  (aside) 

Her  handkerchief !  Ah !  I  see  with  it  the  key  of  her  desk. — 
It  is  there  that  the  poison  is  locked  up!  (Aloud)  Did  you 
say  pledges  of  my  sincerity  ?  I  will  give  them  to  you. — What 
do  you  demand? 

GERTRUDE 

Eeally,  I  do  not  care  for  more  than  one  proof  that  you  mean 
what  you  say,  and  that  is,  that  you  should  marry  the  other 
suitor. 

PAULINE 
I  will  marry  him. 

GERTRUDE 

And  you  must,  at  this  very  moment,  plight  your  troth  with 
him. 

PAULINE 

Go  to  him  yourself,  madame,  and  tell  him;  and  then  come 
here  with  my  father,  and — 


THE  STEPMOTHER  131 

GERTRUDE 
And  what? — 

,  PAULINE 

And  I  will  give  him  my  word;  even  though  this  be  to  give 
away  my  life. 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 

In  what  a  tone  she  uttered  that.  With  what  resolution! 
And  without  tears — I  feel  sure  she  is  keeping  something  back ! 
(Aloud)  And  so  you  are  quite  resigned  to  this? 

PAULINE 
I  am. 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 
I  hope  she  is.     (To  Pauline)  If  you  are  sincere — 

PAULINE 

You  are  mendacity  itself,  and  you  always  see  a  lie  in  other's 
words — Oh !  Leave  me,  madame,  you  make  me  shudder. 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 

Well,  she  is  candid  at  any  rate.  (Aloud)  I  am  going  to 
tell  Ferdinand  of  your  resolution — (Pauline  nods  in 
acquiescence.)  But  he  will  not  believe  me.  Suppose  you 
write  a  word  to  him? 

PAULINE 

Yes,  I  will  write  to  him,  and  tell  him  not  to  go  away.  (Sits 
down  and  writes.)  Here  is  the  letter,  madame. 

GERTRUDE  (reads) 

"I  am  going  to  marry  M.  de  Eimonville — so  that  you  may 
remain  here.  Pauline."  (Aside)  I  do  not  quite  understand 
this — I  fear  that  there  is  some  trick  in  it.  I  am  going  to 
let  him  leave;  he  will  learn  of  the  marriage  when  he  is  far 
away  from  this.  (Exit.) 


132  THE  STEPMOTHER 

SCENE  NINTH. 

PAULINE  (alone) 

Ferdinand  is  utterly  lost  to  me  now — I  have  always  ex- 
pected it ;  the  world  is  either  a  paradise  or  a  prison  cell ;  and 
I,  a  young  girl,  have  dreamed  only  of  the  paradise.  But  any- 
way I  have  the  key  of  the  desk,  and  I  can  return  it  after  hav- 
ing taken  out  something  which  may  serve  to  put  an  end  to 
this  terrible  situation.  Yes,  that  is  what  I  will  do! 


SCENE  TENTH. 
PAULINE  AND  MARGUERITE. 

MARGUERITE 

Mademoiselle,  my  trunks  are  all  packed.  I  am  now  going 
to  begin  packing  here. 

PAULINE 

Yes.  (Aside)  It  is  best  to  let  her  do  so.  (Aloud)  Come 
here,  Marguerite,  take  this  gold  and  conceal  it  among  your 
things. 

MARGUERITE 

You  are  sure  that  your  reasons  for  starting  away  are  very 
urgent  ? 

PAULINE 

My  poor  Marguerite,  who  knows  whether  I  shall  be  able  to 
get  away !  But  come,  go  on  with  your  work.  (Exit.) 


SCENE  ELEVENTH. 

MARGUERITE  (alone) 
And  to  think  that  I  believed  this  fury  was  unwilling  that 


THE  STEPMOTHER  133 

mademoiselle  should  marry !  Is  it  possible  that  mademoiselle 
should  have  concealed  from  me  that  her  real  love  was  being 
opposed  ?  Yet  her  father  is  so  good  to  her !  He  leaves  her 
free  to  choose — Suppose  I  were  to  speak  to  the  General — Oh ! 
no,  I  would  not  run  the  risk  of  injuring  my  child. 


SCENE  TWELFTH. 
MARGUERITE  AND  PAULINE. 

PAULINE 

No  one  has  seen  me.  Listen,  Marguerite,  first  of  all,  take 
away  the  money  that  I  gave  you,  and  then  let  me  think  about 
the  resolution  which  I  have  taken. 

MARGUERITE 

If  I  were  in  your  place,  mademoiselle,  I  would  tell  every- 
thing to  the  General. 

PAULINE 

To  my  father?  Unhappy  woman,  do  not  betray  me!  And 
let  both  of  us  respect  the  illusions,  in  the  midst  of  which  he 
lives. 

MARGUERITE 
Ah !    Illusions !    That  is  the  very  word. 

PAULINE 
You  may  leave  me  now.     (Exit  Marguerite.} 


134  THE  STEPMOTHER 

SCENE  THIRTEENTH. 
PAULINE,  THEN  VERNON. 

PAULINE  (holding  in  her  hand  the  parcel  of  poison ,  which 
was  shown  in  the  first  act) 

Here  stands  death  before  me !  The  doctor  told  us  yester- 
day, in  reference  to  Champagne's  wife,  that  this  terrible  sub- 
stance required  some  hours,  almost  a  whole  night,  to  produce 
its  deadly  effects,  and  that  it  was  possible,  during  the  first 
hours,  to  nullify  these  effects;  if  the  doctor  remains  at  the 
house,  he  will  provide  this  antidote.  (Some  one  knocks.) 
Who  is  that? 

VERNON  (from  without) 
It  is  I. 

PAULINE 

Come  in,  doctor!  (Aside)  Curiosity  brings  him  to  see  me, 
curiosity  will  take  him  away. 

VERNON 

I  see,  my  child,  that  between  you  and  your  stepmother, 
there  are  secrets  of  life  and  death  ? 

PAULINE 
Yes,  and,  above  all,  death. 

VERNON 

I  was  afraid  so!  And  that,  of  course,  I  must  attend  to. 
But  tell  me — You  must  have  had  some  terrible  quarrel  with 
your  stepmother. 

PAULINE 

Let  me  hear  no  more  of  that  creature.  She  deceives  my 
father. 


135 


I  know  it. 

PAULINE 
She  never  loved  him. 

VERNON 
I  was  quite  sure  of  that ! 

PAULINE 
She  has  sworn  to  ruin  me. 

VERNON 

How  ?  Is  it  in  an  affair  of  your  heart  that  she  wishes  to  do 
you  harm? 

PAULINE 
Rather  say,  it  is  my  life  she  threatens. 

VERNON 

What  a  horrible  suspicion !  Pauline,  my  child,  I  love  you 
well,  you  know  I  do.  Tell  me,  can  nothing  save  you? 

PAULINE 

In  order  to  change  my  fate,  it  would  be  necessary  that  my 
father  change  his  ideas.  Listen;  I  am  in  love  with  M.  Fer- 
dinand. 

VERNON 

I  already  know  that.  But  who  would  hinder  you  from 
marrying  him? 

PAULINE 

Can  you  keep  a  secret  ?  Well,  he  is  the  son  of  General  Mar- 
candal ! — 

VERNON 

My  God !  You  may  rely  on  my  keeping  that  secret !  Why, 
your  father  would  fight  with  him  to  the  death,  if  for  nothing 
else,  because  he  has  had  him  under  his  roof  for  three  years. 


136  THE  STEPMOTHER 

PAULINE 

You  will  then  see  very  plainly  that  there  is  no  hope  for 
me.  (She  sinks  back  overwhelmed  with  emotion  in  an  arm- 
chair. ) 

VERNON 

Poor  child !  I  fear  she  is  going  to  faint !  (He  rings  and 
calls)  Marguerite !  Marguerite ! 


SCENE  FOURTEENTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  GEKTRUDE,  MARGUERITE  AND  THE  GEN- 
ERAL. 

MARGUERITE   (running  in) 
What  is  it,  sir? 

VERNON 

Get  me  a  tea-urn  of  boiling  water,  into  which  you  must 
drop  some  orange  leaves. 

GERTRUDE 
What  is  the  matter  with  you,  Pauline? 

THE  GENERAL 
Bear  child,  do  tell  us? 

GERTRUDE 

Oh,  it  is  nothing!    We  can  understand  her  feelings.    It  is 
because  she  sees  her  lot  in  life  decided — 

VERNON  (to  the  General) 
Her  lot  decided  ?    And  in  what  way  ? 

THE  GENERAL 
She  is  going  to  marry  Godard !     (Aside)It  seems  to  me  as 


THE  STEPMOTHER  137 

if  she  were  giving  up  some  love  affair  of  which  she  did  not 
wish  to  tell  me.  As  far  as  I  can  understand  from  what  my 
wife  has  told  me,  the  unknown  one  is  ineligible,  and  Pauline 
did  not  discover  his  unworthiness  until  yesterday. 

VERNON 

And  you  believe  this  ?  Do  not  precipitate  matters,  General. 
We  will  talk  it  over  this  evening.  (Aside)  Before  then  I  am 
going  to  have  a  few  words  with  Madame  de  Grandchamp. 

PAULINE  (to  Gertrude) 
The  doctor  knows  all ! 

GERTRUDE 
Ah! 

PAULINE  (she  puts  back  into  the  pocket  of  Gertrude  the  hand- 

kerchief  and  the  key,  while  the  latter  is  looking  at 

Vernon,  who  converses  with  the  General) 

Keep  him  away,  for  he  is  capable  of  telling  all  he  knows  to 
the  General.  We  must  at  least  protect  Ferdinand. 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 

She  is  right.  (Aloud)  Doctor,  I  have  just  been  informed 
that  Francis,  one  of  our  best  workmen,  is  sick;  he  hasn't 
appeared  this  morning,  and  you  might  go  and  visit  him. 

THE  GENERAL 
Francis  ?    Oh !  Vernon,  you  had  better  go  and  see  him — 

VERNON 

Doesn't  he  live  at  Pre-FEveque?  (Aside)  More  than 
three  leagues  away. 

THE  GENERAL 
Are  you  alarmed  about  Pauline? 


138  THE  STEPMOTHER 

VERNON 
It  IB  simply  an  attack  of  nerves. 

GERTRUDE 
I  can  take  your  place  here,  doctor,  if  that  is  so,  can't  I  ? — 

VERNON 

Yes.  (To  the  General)  I'll  undertake  to  say  that  Francis 
is  about  as  sick  as  I  am !  The  fact  of  it  is,  I  see  rather  too 
much  and  my  presence  is  not  desired — 

THE  GENERAL  (in  a  rage) 
What  are  you  talking  about?    To  whom  do  you  refer? 

VERNON 

Are  you  going  to  fly  into  a  passion  again  ?  Do  calm  your- 
self, my  old  friend,  or  you  will  cause  yourself  eternal  remorse. 

THE  GENERAL 
Remorse  ? 

VERNON 
Just  keep  these  people  talking,  till  I  return. 

THE  GENERAL 
But— 

GERTRUDE  (to  Pauline) 
Tell  me,  how  do  you  feel  now,  my  sweet  angel? 

THE  GENERAL 
Just  look  at  them. 

VERNON 
Ah !  well,  women  stab  each  other  with  a  smile  and  a  kiss. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  139 

SCENE  FIFTEENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  (EXCEPT  VERNON)  AND  MARGUERITE. 

GERTRUDE  (to  the  General,  who  seems  as  if  he  were  bewildered 
by  the  last  words  of  Vernon) 

What  is  the  matter  with  you  ? 

THE  GENERAL  (passing  before  Gertrude  to  the  side  of 
Pauline) 

Nothing,  nothing!     Tell  me,  my  little  Pauline,  is  your 
engagement  with  Godard  to  be  quite  voluntary  ? 

PAULINE 
Quite  voluntary. 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 
Ah! 

THE  GENERAL 
He  will  be  here  soon. 

PAULINE 
I  am  expecting  him. 

THE  GENERAL  (aside) 

There  is  a  tremendous  amount  of  bitterness  in  her  tone. 
(Marguerite  appears  with  a  tea-cup.) 

GERTRUDE 

It  is  too  soon.  Marguerite,  the  infusion  can't  yet  be  strong 
enough !    (She  tastes  it.)    I  must  go  and  prepare  it  myself. 

MARGUERITE 

I  have  always  been  in  the  habit  of  waiting  upon  Mile. 
Pauline- 


140  THE  STEPMOTHER 

GERTRUDE 
What  do  you  mean  by  speaking  to  me  in  this  tone? 

MARGUERITE 
But — madame— 

THE  GENERAL 
Maguerjte,  if  you  say  another  word,  we  shall  fall  out 

PAULINE 

Marguerite,  you  may  just  as  well  let  Madame  de  Grand- 
champ  have  her  way.  (Gertrude  goes  out  with  Marguerite.) 

THE  GENERAL 

And  so  my  little  girl  has  not  much  confidence  in  the  father 
who  loves  her  so  ?  Come  now !  Tell  me  why  you  so  distinctly 
refused  Godard  yesterday,  and  yet,  accept  him  to-day  ? 

PAULINE 
I  suppose  it  is  a  young  girl's  whim. 

THE  GENERAL 
Are  you  in  love  with  anybody  else? 

PAULINE 

It  is  because  I  am  not  in  love  with  anybody  else  that  I  con- 
sent to  marry  your  friend  M.  Godard !  ( Gertrude  comes  in 
with  Marguerite.) 

THE  GENERAL 
Ah! 

GERTRUDE 
Take  this,  my  darling,  but  be  careful,  for  it  is  a  little  hot 

PAULINE 
Thank  you,  mother! 


THE  STEPMOTHER  141 

THE  GENERAL 

Mother! — Truly,  this  is  enough  to  drive  one  crazy  with 
perplexity ! 

PAULINE 

Marguerite,  bring  me  the  sugar  basin!  (While  Marguerite 
goes  out  and  Gertrude  talks  with  the  General,  she  drops  the 
poison  into  the  cup  and  lets  fall  the  paper  which  contained  it. ) 

GERTRUDE  (to  the  General) 
You  seem  to  be  indisposed? 

THE  GENERAL 

My  dear,  I  cannot  understand  women;  I  am  like  Godard. 
(Marguerite  comes  back.) 

GERTRUDE 
You  are  like  all  other  men. 

PAULINE  (hurriedly  drinking  the  poisoned  cup) 
Ah! 

GERTRUDE 
How  are  you  now,  my  child? 

PAULINE 
I  am  better. 

GERTRUDE 
I  am  going  to  prepare  another  cup  for  you. 

PAULINE 

Oh,  no,  madame,  this  will  be  quite  enough !  I  would  sooner 
wait  for  the  doctor.  (She  sets  down  the  empty  cup  on  the 
table.) 


142  THE  STEPMOTHER 

SCENE  SIXTEENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  FELIX,  THEN  GODAED. 

FELIX 

M.  Godard  asks  if  you  will  see  him  ?  (He  looks  inquiringly 
at  Pauline.) 

PAULINE 
Certainly. 

GERTRUDE  (leaving  the  room) 
What  do  you  intend  saying  to  him  ? 

PAULINE 
Wait  and  see. 

GODARD    (entering) 

I  am  sorry  that  mademoiselle  is  indisposed.  I  did  not  know 
it.  I  will  not  intrude.  (They  offer  him  a  chair.)  Mademoi- 
selle, allow  me  to  thank  you  above  all  for  the  kindness  you 
have  shown  in  receiving  me  in  this  sanctuary  of  innocence. 
Madame  de  Grandchamp  and  your  father  have  just  informed 
me  of  something  which  would  have  overwhelmed  me  with 
happiness  yesterday,  but  rather  astonishes  me  to-day. 

THE  GENERAL 
That  is  to  say,  M.  Godard — 

PAULINE 

Do  not  be  hasty,  father,  M.  Godard  is  right.  You  do  not 
know  all  I  said  to  him  yesterday. 

GODARD 

You  are  far  too  clever,  mademoiselle,  not  to  consider  as 
quite  natural  the  curiosity  of  an  honorable  young  man,  who 
has  an  income  of  forty  thousand  francs,  besides  his  savings, 


THE  STEPMOTHER  143 

to  learn  the  reason  why  he  should  be  accepted  after  a  lapse 
of  twenty-four  hours  from  his  rejection —  For,  yesterday, 
it  was  at  this  very  hour — (He  pulls  out  his  watch)  Half- 
past  five — 

THE  GENERAL 

What  do  you  mean  by  all  this  ?  It  looks  as  if  you  are  not 
as  much  in  love  as  you  said  you  were.  You  have  come  here 
to  complain  of  a  charming  girl  at  the  very  moment  when  she 
has  told  you — 

GODARD 

I  would  not  complain,  if  the  subject  were  not  marriage. 
Marriage,  General,  is  at  once  the  cause  and  the  effect  of  senti- 
ment. 

THE  GENERAL 
Pardon  me,  Godard,  I  am  a  little  hasty,  as  you  know. 

PAULINE  (to  Godard) 

Sir — (Aside)  Oh,  how  I  suffer!  Sir,  why  should  poor 
young  girls — 

GODARD 

Poor  ?— No,  no,  mademoiselle ;  you  are  not  poor.  You  have 
four  hundred  thousand  francs. 

PAULINE 
Why  should  weak  young  girls — 

f  GODARD 

Weak? 

PAULINE 

Well,  then,  innocent  young  persons — be  so  very  fastidious 
about  the  character  of  the  man  who.  presents  himself  as  their 
lord  and  master?  If  you  love  me,  will  you  punish  yourself — 
will  you  punish  me — because  your  love  has  been  submitted  to 
a  test? 


144  THE  STEPMOTHER 

GODABD 
Of  course,  from  that  point  of  view — 

THE  GENERAL 

Oh !    These  women  !     These  women ! 

i 

GODARD 

You  may  just  as  well  say,  "These  daughters.'* 

THE  GENERAL 

Yes,  for  I  am  quite  sure  that  mine  has  more  brains  than  I 
have. 


SCENE  SEVENTEENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,   GERTRUDE  AND  NAPOLEON. 

GERTRUDE 
How  has  it  turned  out,  M.  Godard  ? 

GODARD 

Ah,  Madame !  General !  My  happiness  is  complete,  and  my 
dream  fulfilled.  For  now  I  am  to  be  admitted  into  a  family 
like  yours.  To  think  that  I — Ah  !  Madame !  General ! 
(Aside)  I'd  like  to  find  out  the  mystery,  for  she  has  precious 
little  love  for  me. 

NAPOLEON  (entering) 

Papa,  I  have  won  the  school  medal — Good-day,  mamma — 
and  where  is  Pauline  ?  And  so  you  are  sick  ?  Poor  little  sister ! 


THE  STEPMOTHER  145 

I'll  tell  you  something — I  have  found  out  where  justice  comes 
from. 

GEBTEUDE 
And  who  told  you  ?  Ah !  see  what  a  lovely  boy  he  is ! 

NAPOLEON 
The  master  told  me  that  justice  came  from  God. 

GODAED 
It  is  very  plain  that  your  master  was  not  born  in  Normandy. 

PAULINE  (in  a  low  voice  to  Marguerite) 

0  Marguerite !    Dear  Marguerite !    Do  send  them  all  away. 

MARGUERITE 
Gentlemen,  Mile.  Pauline  desires  to  take  a  little  nap. 

THE  GENERAL 

Just  so,  Pauline,  we  will  leave  you,  and  you  need  not  get 
up  till  dinner  time. 

PAULINE 

1  will  certainly  get  up  then  if  I  can.    Father,  kiss  me  be- 
fore you  go. 

THE  GENERAL  (kissing  her) 

My  darling  child !    (To  Napoleon)    Come,  my  boy.     (They 
all  go  out,  except  Pauline,  Marguerite  and  Napoleon.) 

NAPOLEON  (to  Pauline) 
And  how  is  it  you  do  not  kiss  me  ?  Tell  me  what  ails  you  ? 


146  THE  STEPMOTHER 

PAULINE 
Oh!  I  am  dying! 

NAPOLEON 
Do  people  die  ?  Pauline,  what  is  death  made  of  ? 

PAULINE 

Death — is   made — like   this — (she   falls   back   into   Mar- 
guerite's arms). 

MARGUERITE 
Oh!  My  God!  Help!  Help! 

NAPOLEON 

Oh !    Pauline,  you  frighten  me !     (Running  away.)    Mam- 
ma !   Mamma ! 

Curtain  to  the  Fourth  Act. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  147 


ACT  V. 


SCENE  FIRST. 

(The  chamber  of  Pauline  as  before.) 
PAULINE,  FERDINAND  AND  VEENON. 

(Pauline  lies  stretched  upon  her  bed.  Ferdinand  holds  her 
hand  in  an  attitude  of  profound  grief  and  despair.  It  is  just 
before  dawn  and  a  lamp  is  burning.) 

VERNON  (seated  near  the  table) 

I  have  seen  thousands  of  dead  men  on  the  field  of  battle 
and  in  the  ambulances,  yet  the  death  of  this  young  girl  under 
her  father's  roof  moves  me  more  profoundly  than  all  those 
heroic  sufferings.  Death  is  perhaps  a  thing  foreseen  on  the 
field  of  battle — it  is  even  expected  there;  while  here,  it  is 
not  only  the  passing  away  of  a  single  person,  but  a  whole 
family  is  plunged  in  tears  and  fond  hopes  vanish.  Here  is 
this  child,  of  whom  I  was  so  fond,  murdered,  poisoned — and 
by  whom  ?  Marguerite  has  rightly  guessed  the  secret  of  this 
struggle  between  two  rivals.  It  was  impossible  to  refrain 
from  communicating  at  once  with  the  authorities.  In  the 
meantime,  God  knows  I  have  used  every  effort  to  snatch  this 
young  life  from  the  grave.  (Ferdinand  raises  his  head  and 
listens  to  the  doctor.}  I  have  even  brought  this  poison,  which 
may  act  as  an  antidote  to  the  other ;  but  the  princes  of  medical 
science  should  have  been  present  to  witness  the  experiment! 
No  one  man  ought  to  venture  upon  such  a  throw  of  the  dice. 

FERDINAND  (rises  and  approaches  the  doctor) 
Doctor,  when  the  magistrates  arrive,  will  you  explain  this 


148  THE  STEPMOTHER 

experiment  of  yours;  they  will  be  sure  to  sanction  it;  and 
you  may  be  sure  that  God,  yes  God,  will  hear  me.  He  will 
work  some  miracle,  He  will  give  her  back  to  me ! 

VERNON 

I  should  have  ventured  upon  it  before  the  action  of  the 
poison  had  wrought  its  full  effects.  If  I  did  so  now,  I  should 
be  looked  upon  as  the  poisoner.  No  (he  places  a  little  flask 
upon  the  table),  it  would  be  useless  now,  and  to  give  it  with 
the  most  disinterested  motives  would  be  looked  upon  as  a 
crime. 

FEEDINAND  (after  holding  a  mirror  before  Pauline's  lips) 
Anything,  everything  is  yet  possible;  she  still  breathes. 

VERNON 
She  will  not  live  till  daylight. 


Ferdinand  I 

FERDINAND 
She  has  just  uttered  my  name. 

VERNON 

The  vitality  of  a  girl  of  twenty-two  is  very  tenacious! 
Moreover,  she  will  preserve  consciousness,  even  to  her  last 
gasp.  She  might  possibly  rise  from  her  bed  and  talk  with  us, 
although  the  sufferings  caused  by  this  terrible  poison  are 
inconceivable. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  149 

SCENE  SECOND. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  THE  GENERAL. 

THE  GENERAL  (outside) 
Vernon ! 

VERNON  (to  Ferdinand) 

It  is  the  General.  (Ferdinand,  overcome  with  grief,  falls 
back  on  the  arm-chair,  where  he  is  concealed  by  the  curtains 
of  the  bed.)  What  do  you  want? 

THE  GENERAL 
I  want  to  see  Pauline! 

VERNON 

If  you  take  my  advice,  you  will  wait  awhile;  she  is  very 
much  worse. 

THE  GENERAL  (entering) 
For  that  reason  I  shall  come  in. 

VERNON 
Do  not  come  in,  General.    Listen  to  me ! 

THE  GENERAL 
No,  no !  Ah,  how  motionless,  how  cold  she  is,  Vernon ! 

VERNON 

Listen !  General !  (Aside)  We  must  get  him  away  some- 
how. (Aloud)  There  is  but  a  faint  hope  of  saving  her. 

THE  GENERAL 
You  told  me — You  must  have  been  deceiving  me ! 

VERNON 
My  friend,  we  have  to  look  this  catastrophe  in  the  face,  as 


150  THE  STEPMOTHER 

we  had  to  look  towards  the  batteries  through  a  shower  of  bul- 
lets! On  such  occasions,  when  I  hesitated,  you  always  went 
forward.  (Aside)  That  is  a  good  idea !  (Aloud)  You  had 
better  bring  to  her  the  consolations  of  religion. 

THE   GENERAL 
Vernon,  I  wish  to  see  her,  to  give  her  my  last  kiss. 

VERNON 
Be  careful ! 

THE  GENERAL  (kissing  her) 
Oh !   How  icy  cold  she  is ! 

VERNON 

That  is  a  peculiarity  of  her  sickness,  General.  Hurry  to  the 
priest's  house,  for  in  case  my  remedies  fail,  it  is  not  right- 
that  your  daughter,  who  has  been  reared  as  a  Christian,  should 
be  forgotten  by  the  Church. 

THE  GENERAL 
Ah!  yes.    I  will  go.     (He  moves  towards  the  bed.) 

VERNON  (pointing  towards  the  door) 
This  way! 

THE  GENERAL 

I  quite  lose  my  head ;  I  am  distracted — 0  Vernon.  work  a 
miracle  for  us!  You  have  saved  so  many  people — and  here 
you  cannot  save  the  life  of  my  child ! 

VERNON 

Come,  come  be  off.  (Aside)  I  must  go  with  him,  for  if  he 
meets  the  magistrates  there  will  be  more  trouble  still. 
(Exeunt.) 


THE  STEPMOTHEK  151 

SCENE  THIRD. 
PAULINE  AND  FERDINAND. 

PAULINE 
Ferdinand ! 

FERDINAND 

Ah !  My  God !  Can  this  be  her  last  sigh  ?  Pauline,  you  are 
my  very  life ;  if  Vernon  does  not  save  you,  I  will  follow  you, 
and  we  shall  still  be  united. 

PAULINE 
I  shall  expire,  then,  without  a  single  regret. 

FERDINAND  (takes  up  the  flask) 

That  which  would  have  saved  you,  if  the  doctor  had  arrived 
earlier,  shall  deliver  me  from  life. 

PAULINE 
No,  for  you  may  still  be  happy. 

FERDINAND 
Never,  without  you. 

PAULINE 
Your  words  revive  me. 


SCENE  FOURTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  VERNON. 

FERDINAND 
She  speaks;  her  eyes  once  more  are  open. 


152  THE  STEPMOTHER 

VERNON 

Poor  child !  There  she  falls  asleep  again.  What  shall  the 
waking  be  ?  (Ferdinand  sits  down  again  and  takes  the  hand 
of  Pauline.) 


SCENE  FIFTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  KAMEL,  THE  INVESTIGATING  MAGIS- 
TRATE, A  DOCTOR,  A  CORPORAL  OF  POLICE 
AND  MARGUERITE. 

MARGUERITE 

M.  Vernon,  the  magistrates  are  here.  M.  Ferdinand,  you 
must  leave  the  room !  (Exit  Ferdinand.) 

EAMEL 

Take  care,  corporal,  that  all  the  entrances  of  this  house  are 
guarded,  and  observe  our  orders  !  Doctor,  can  we  remain  here 
a  few  moments  without  danger  to  the  sick  lady? 

VERNON 
She  is  asleep,  sir ;  and  it  is  her  last  slumber. 

MARGUERITE 

Here  is  the  cup  into  which  the  infusion  was  poured  and 
which  still  has  traces  of  arsenic ;  I  perceived  it  there  as  soon 
as  I  took  hold  of  it. 

THE  DOCTOR  (examining  the  cup  and  tasting  the  contents) 
It  is  evident  that  the  liquid  contains  some  poisonous  sub- 
stance. 

THE  MAGISTRATE 
Please  to  make  an  analysis  of  it.    (He  sees  Marguerite  pick- 


THE  STEPMOTHER  153 

ing  up  a  small  piece  of  paper  from  the  ground.)    What  paper 
is  that  ? 

MARGUERITE 
Oh,  it  is  nothing. 

EAMEL 

In  such  cases  as  these,  nothing  is  insignificant  in  the  eyes 
of  magistrates!  Yes,  gentlemen,  we  shall  have  to  examine 
this  paper  later.  What  can  have  delayed  M.  de  Grandchamp  ? 

VERNON 
He  is  at  the  priest's  house,  but  he  will  not  stay  there  long. 

THE  MAGISTRATE  (to  the  doctor) 

Have  you  made  your  examination  yet,  sir?  (The  two  physi- 
cians converse  together  at  the  head  of  the  bed.) 

RAMEL  (to  the  magistrate) 

If  the  General  returns,  we  must  deal  with  him  according  to 
the  circumstances.  (Marguerite  is  weeping,  kneeling  at  the 
foot  of  the  bed;  the  two  physicians,  the  judge  and  Ramel  are 
grouped  in  the  front  of  the  stage.) 

RAMEL  (to  the  doctor) 

It  is  therefore  your  opinion,  sir,  that  the  illness  of  Mile,  de 
Grandchamp,  whom  we  saw  two  days  ago  full  of  health,  and 
even  of  happiness,  is  the  result  of  a  crime? 

THE  DOCTOR 
The  symptoms  of  poisoning  are  undeniable. 

RAMEL 

And  are  the  remains  of  the  poison  contained  in  this  cup 
so  discernible,  and  present  in  such  a  quantity,  as  to  furnish 
legal  proof? 


154  THE  STEPMOTHER 

THE  DOCTOR 
Yes,  sir. 

THE  MAGISTRATE  (to  Vernon) 

This  woman  alleges,  sir,  that  yesterday,  at  four  o'clock, 
you  prescribed  for  Mile,  de  Grandchamp  an  infusion  of  orange 
leaves,  as  a  soothing  draught  for  the  nervous  excitement  which 
followed  upon  an  interview  between  the  stepmother  and  her 
stepdaughter;  she  says,  moreover,  that  Madame  de  Grand- 
champ,  who  had  despatched  you  on  an  empty  errand  to  a  place 
four  leagues  away,  had  insisted  upon  preparing  and  giving 
everything  to  her  daughter  herself ;  is  this  true  ? 

VERNON 
Yes,  sir. 

MARGUERITE 

When  I  persisted  in  my  purpose  of  attending  myself  upon 
my  young  mistress,  my  poor  master  was  incensed  to  the  point 
of  reproaching  me. 

EAMEL  (to  Vernon) 
Where  did  Madame  de  Grandchamp  send  you? 

VERNON 

Everything  is  ominous  in  this  mysterious  affair.  Madame 
de  Grandchamp  was  so  anxious  to  get  me  out  of  the  way  that 
she  sent  me  three  leagues  to  visit  a  sick  man,  who,  I  found 
when  I  reached  his  home,  was  drinking  in  the  inn.  I  blamed 
Champagne  for  deceiving  Madame  de  Grandchamp,  and 
Champagne  positively  told  me  that  the  workman  had  not  ap- 
peared at  the  factory,  but  that  he  himself  knew  nothing  about 
his  alleged  sickness. 

FELIX 
Gentlemen,  the  clergy  are  here. 

RAMEL 
We  can  continue  our  proceedings  in  the  drawing-room. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  155 

VERNON 
This  way,  gentlemen,  this  way. 

(Scene  curtain.) 


SCENE  SIXTH. 
(The  drawing-room.) 

EAMEL,  THE  MAGISTRATE,  THE  SHERIFF'S  OFFICER  AND 
VERNON. 

EAMEL 

Here,  then,  is  the  result  so  far  of  our  inquiry,  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  evidence  of  Felix  and  Marguerite.  Madame 
de  Grandchamp,  in  the  first  place,  administered  to  her  step- 
daughter a  dose  of  opium,  and  you,  M.  Vernon,  who  were 
present  and  saw  the  criminal  attempt,  managed  to  secure  and 
lock  up  the^cup. 

VERNON 
It  is  true,  gentlemen,  but — 

EAMEL 

How  is  it,  M.  Vernon,  that  when  you  witnessed  this  crim- 
inal attempt,  you  did  not  check  Madame  de  Grandchamp  in 
the  fatal  course  which  she  was  then  pursuing? 

VERNON 

Believe  me,  gentlemen,  I  did  everything  which  I  thought 
could  be  done  with  prudence,  and  all  that  my  long  experience 
suggested  was  attempted  by  me. 

THE  MAGISTRATE 
Your  conduct,  sir,  was  peculiar,  and  you  will  be  called  upon 


156  THE  STEPMOTHER 

to  explain  it.    You  did  your  duty  yesterday  in  preserving  the 
cup  as  evidence ;  but  why  did  you  not  go  further  ? 

RAMEL 

Pardon  me,  M.  Cordier,  this  gentleman  is  advanced  in 
years;  he  is  an  honest  and  trustworthy  man.  (He  takes  Ver- 
non  aside}  You  have  found  out,  I  suppose,  the  cause  of  this 
crime  ? 

VERNON 

It  springs  from  a  rivalry  between  two  women,  who  have 
been  urged  on  to  the  most  violent  extremes  by  their  reckless 
passions.  And  I  was  obliged  to  keep  silence  on  the  subject. 

RAMEL 
I  know  the  whole  business. 

VERNON 
You!  sir? 

RAMEL 

Yes,  and,  like  you,  I  have  done  everything  to  prevent  this 
catastrophe;  for  Ferdinand  was  to  leave  this  very  night.  I 
knew  Mile.  Gertrude  de  Meilhac  in  former  years,  having  met 
her  at  the  house  of  my  friend. 

VERNON 

Oh !  sir,  show  clemency !  Have  pity  on  an  old  soldier, 
crippled  with  wounds,  and  enslaved  by  delusions.  He  is  in 
danger  of  losing  both  his  daughter  and  his  wife.  Heaven 
grant  he  may  not  lose  his  honor  also ! 

RAMEL 

We  understand  each  other.  So  long  as  Gertrude  does  not 
make  such  admissions  as  force  us  to  see  the  real  situation,  I 
shall  endeavor  to  persuade  the  investigating  magistrate — who 
is  an  extremely  sagacious  and  honest  man  of  ten  years'  ex- 


THE  STEPMOTHER  157 

perience— I  shall  try  to  make  him  believe  that  cupidity  alone 
has  influenced  Madame  de  Grandchamp.  You  must  assist 
me.  ( The  magistrate  approaches;  Ramel  nods  to  Vernon  and 
puts  on  an  expression  of  seventy)  Why  did  Madame  de 
Grandchamp  wish  to  drug  her  stepdaughter?  You,  who  are 
the  friend  of  the  household,  ought  to  know  this. 

VERNON 

Pauline  was  about  to  confide  her  secrets  to  me.  Her  step- 
mother thought  that  I  was  learning  certain  things  which  her 
interest  required  should  be  concealed ;  and  that,  sir,  is  doubtless 
the  reason  why  she  sent  me  to  treat  a  workman  who  was  in 
good  health,  and  not  to  prevent  help  from  being  brought  to 
Pauline,  for  Louviers  is  not  so  far  off. 

THE  MAGISTRATE 

What  forethought  she  has!  She  won't  be  able  to  escape, 
if  we  find  the  proofs  of  crime  in  her  desk.  She  does  not  ex- 
pect us  here ;  she  will  be  thunderstruck. 


SCENE  SEVENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  GERTRUDE  AND  MARGUERITE. 

GERTRUDE 

I  hear  the  strains  of  church  music !  What,  is  there  another 
trial  going  on  here?  What  can  be  happening?  (She  goes  to 
the  door  of  Pauline's  chamber  and  starts  back  terrified,  on  the 
appearance  of  Marguerite.)  Ah! 

MARGUERITE 
They  are  offering  prayers  over  the  body  of  your  victim ! 

GERTRUDE 
Pauline!  Pauline!  Dead! 


158  THE  STEPMOTHER 

THE  MAGISTRATE 
And  it  is  you,  madame,  who  have  poisoned  her. 

GERTRUDE 

I!  I!  I!  Ah!  what  is  this?  Am  I  asleep  or  awake ?  (To 
Ramel)  Ah !  How  extremely  fortunate  for  me  is  this  meet- 
ing !  For  you  know  the  whole  affair,  don't  you  ?  Do  you  be- 
lieve me  capable  of  a  crime  like  this  ?  What !  Am  I  actually 
accused  of  it  ?  Do  you  think  that  I  would  have  made  an  attack 
upon  her  life?  I,  the  wife  of  a  veteran  who  is  the  soul  of 
honor?  I,  the  mother  of  a  child,  before  whom  I  would  not 
wish  to  be  disgraced?  Justice  will  vindicate  me — Marguer- 
ite, let  no  one  leave  the  room.  Gentlemen,  tell  me  what  has 
taken  place  since  yesterday  evening,  when  I  left  Pauline 
slightly  indisposed? 

THE  MAGISTRATE 

Madame,  collect  yourself!  You  stand  before  the  tribunal 
of  your  country. 

GERTRUDE 
You  chill  me  with  such  words — 

THE  MAGISTRATE 

The  administration  of  justice  in  France  is  the  most  perfect 
of  criminal  procedures.  No  traps  are  set,  for  justice  proceeds, 
acts,  and  speaks  with  open  face,  for  she  is  solely  intent  upon 
her  mission,  which  is,  the  discovery  of  the  truth.  At  the  pres- 
ent moment,  you  are  merely  inculpated,  and  in  me  you  must 
see  your  protector.  But  tell  the  truth,  whatever  it  may  be; 
the  final  result  will  be  decided  at  a  higher  tribunal. 

GERTRUDE 

Ah!  sir,  take  me  into  her  chamber,  and  in  presence  of 
Pauline  I  will  cry  out,  what  I  cry  out  before  you — I  am  guilt- 
less of  her  death ! — 


THE  STEPMOTHER  159 

THE  MAGISTRATE 
Madame ! — 

GERTRUDE 

Sir,  let  us  have  none  of  those  long  phrases,  with  which  you 
blind  the  eyes  of  people.  I  suffer  pains  unheard  of !  I  weep 
for  Pauline  as  though  she  were  my  child,  and — I  forgive  her 
everything!  What  do  you  want  with  me?  Proceed,  and  I 
will  answer  you. 

RAMEL 

What  is  it  that  you  will  forgive  her? 

GERTRUDE 
I  mean — 

EAMEL  (in  a  low  voice) 
Be  cautious  in  your  replies. 

GERTRUDE 
You  are  right,  for  precipices  yawn  on  every  side ! 

THE  MAGISTRATE  (to  the  sheriff's  officer} 
Names  and  titles  may  be  taken  later;  now  write  down  the 
notes  of  the  investigation,  and  the  inquiry.     (To  Gertrude) 
Did  you  yesterday  forenoon  put  opium  into  the  tea  of  Mile, 
de  Grandchamp? 

GERTRUDE 
Ah !  doctor — this  is  you. 

RAMEL 

Do  not  accuse  the  doctor.  He  has  already  too  seriously 
compromised  himself  for  you !  Answer  the  magistrate ! 

GERTRUDE 
It  is  true. 

THE  MAGISTRATE 
Madame  recognizes  the  cup  and  admits  that  she  put  opium 


160  THE  STEPMOTHER 

in  it.    That  will  be  enough  for  the  present,  at  this  stage  of  the 
inquiry. 

GERTRUDE 
Do  you  accuse  me  then  of  something  further  ?    What  is  it  ? 

THE  MAGISTRATE 

Madame,  if  you  cannot  free  yourself  from  blame  with  regard 
to  a  later  event,  you  may  be  charged  with  the  crime  of  poison- 
ing. We  must  now  proceed  to  seek  proofs  either  of  your  inno- 
cence or  of  your  guilt. 

GERTRUDE 
Where  will  you  seek  them? 

THE  MAGISTRATE 

From  you !  Yesterday  you  gave  Mile,  de  Grandchamp  an 
infusion  of  orange  leaves,  in  another  cup  which  contained 
arsenic. 

GERTRUDE 
Can  it  be  possible ! 

THE  MAGISTRATE 

The  day  before  yesterday  you  declared  that  the  key  of  your 
desk,  in  which  the  arsenic  was  locked,  never  left  your  posses- 
sion. 

GERTRUDE 
It  is  in  my  dress  pocket. — 

THE  MAGISTRATE 
Have  you  ever  made  any  use  of  that  arsenic? 

GERTRUDE 
No;  you  will  find  the  parcel  still  sealed. 

EAMEL 
Ah !  madame,  I  sincerely  hope  so. 


THE  STEPMOTHER  161 

THE  MAGISTRATE 

I  very  much  doubt  it;  this  is  one  of  those  audacious  crimi- 
nals— 

GERTRUDE 
The  chamber  is  in  disorder,  permit  me — 

THE  MAGISTRATE 
No,  no!    All  three  of  us  will  enter  it. 

EAMEL 
Your  innocence  is  now  at  stake. 

GERTRUDE 
Gentlemen,  let  us  go  in  together. 


SCENE  EIGHTH. 

VERNON  (alone} 

My  poor  General !  He  kneels  by  the  bed  of  his  daughter ; 
he  weeps,  he  prays ! — Alas !  God  alone  can  give  her  back  to 
him. 


SCENE  NINTH. 

VERNON,   GERTRUDE,   EAMEL,  THE   MAGISTRATE  AND  THE 
SHERIFF'S  OFFICER. 

GERTRUDE 
I  scarce  can  believe  my  senses ;  I  am  dreaming — I  am— 

EAMEL 
You  are  ruined,  madame. 


162  THE  STEPMOTHER 

GERTRUDE 
Yes,  sir — But  by  whom  ? 

THE  MAGISTRATE  (to  the  sheriff's  officer) 

Write  down  that  Madame  de  Grandchamp  having  herself 
unlocked  for  us  the  desk  in  her  bedchamber  and  having  her- 
self given  into  our  hands  the  parcel  sealed  by  M.  Baudrillon, 
this  parcel  which  two  days  ago  was  intact  is  found'  unsealed 
and  from  it  has  been  taken  a  dose,  more  than  sufficient  to 
produce  death. 

GERTRUDE 
Death!— And  I? 

THE  MAGISTRATE 

Madame,  it  was  not  without  reason  that  I  took  from  your 
desk  this  torn  piece  of  paper.  We  have  also  picked  up  in 
Mile,  de  Grandchamp's  chamber  a  piece  of  paper,  which 
exactly  fits  to  it;  and  this  proves  that  when  you  reached  your 
desk,  in  that  confusion  which  crime  always  brings  upon  crimi- 
nals, you  took  up  this  paper  to  wrap  up  the  dose,  which  you 
intended  to  mix  with  the  infusion. 

GERTRUDE 
You  said  that  you  were  my  protector !    And  there,  see  now — 

'   THE  MAGISTRATE 

Give  me  your  attention,  madame.  In  face  of  such  suspi- 
cions, I  feel  I  shall  have  to  change  the  writ  of  summons  into  a 
writ  of  bail  or  imprisonment.  (He  signs  the  document.)  And 
now,  madame,  you  must  consider  yourself  under  arrest. 

GERTRUDE 

Of  course,  I  will  do  all  that  you  wish ! — But  you  told  me 
that  your  mission  was  to  search  for  the  truth — Oh!  Let  us 
search  for  it  here — Let  us  search  for  it  here ! 


THE  STEPMOTHER  163 

THE  MAGISTRATE 
Certainly,  madame. 

GERTRUDE  (to  Ramel;  she  is  weeping) 

0  M.  Eamel ! 

EAMEL 

Have  you  anything  to  say  in  your  defence  which  would  lead 
us  to  cancel  this  terrible  sentence  ? 

GERTRUDE 

Gentlemen,  I  am  innocent  of  the  crime  of  poisoning,  and 
yet  all  is  against  me !  I  implore  you,  give  me  your  help  instead 
of  torturing  me ! — And  listen  to  me — Some  one  must  have 
taken  my  key, — can  you  not  understand  ?  Some  one  .must 
have  come  into  my  room — Ah !  I  see  it  all  now —  (To  Ramel) 
Pauline  loved  as  I  loved ;  she  has  poisoned  herself ! 

EAMEL 

For  the  sake  of  your  honor,  do  not  say  that,  without  the 
most  convincing  proofs,  otherwise — 

THE  MAGISTRATE 

Madame,  is  it  true  that,  yesterday,  you,  knowing  Doctor 
Vernon  was  to  dine  with  you,  sent  him — 

GERTRUDE 

Oh !  you, — your  questions  are  so  many  daggers  at  my  heart ! 
and  yet  you  go  on,  you  still  go  on. 

THE  MAGISTRATE 

Did  you  send  him  away  to  attend  a  workman  at  Pre"- 
TEveque? 

GERTRUDE 

1  did,  sir. 


164  THE  STEPMOTHER 

THE  MAGISTRATE 

This  workman,  madame,  was  found  in  a  tavern,  and  in  excel- 
lent health. 

GERTRUDE 
Champagne  had  told  me  that  he  was  sick 

THE  MAGISTRATE 

We  have  questioned  Champagne,  and  he  denies  this,  averring 
that  he  said  nothing  about  sickness.  The  fact  of  it  was,  you 
wished  to  preclude  the  possibility  of  medical  aid. 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 

It  was  Pauline !  It  was  she  who  made  me  send  away  Ver- 
non!  0  Pauline!  You  have  dragged  me  down  with  your- 
self into  the  tomb,  to  which  I  sink  bearing  the  name  of  crim- 
inal! No  I  No!  No!  (To  Ramel)  Sir,  I  have  but  one 
avenue  of  escape.  (To  Vernon)  Is  Pauline  still  alive? 

VERNON  (pointing  to  the  General) 
Here  is  my  answer. 


SCENE  TENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  THE  GENERAL. 

THE  GENERAL  (to  Vernon) 

She  is  dying,  my  friend !    If  I  lose  her,  I  shall  never  sur- 
vive it. 

VERNON 
My  friend ! 

THE  GENERAL 
It  seems  to  me  that  there  are  a  great  many  people  here — 


THE  STEPMOTHER  165 

What  must  be  done  ?    Oh,  try  to  save  her !    I  wonder  where 
Gertrude  is.     (They  give  him  a  seat.) 

GERTRUDE  (sinking  at  the  feet  of  the  General) 
My  friend! — Poor  father! — I  would  this  instant  I  might 
be  killed  without  a  trial.  (She  rises.)  No,  Pauline  has 
wrapped  me  in  her  shroud,  I  feel  her  icy  hands  about  my  neck. 
And  yet  I  was  resigned.  Yes,  I  would  have  buried  with  me  the 
secret  of  this  terrible  drama,  which  every  woman  should  under- 
stand !  But  I  am  weary  of  this  struggle  with  a  corpse  that 
holds  me  tight,  and  communicates  to  me  the  coldness  and  the 
stiffness  of  death !  I  have  made  up  my  mind  that  my  inno- 
cence of  this  crime  shall  come  forth  victorious  at  the  expense 
of  somebody's  honor;  for  never,  never  could  I  become  a  vile 
and  cowardly  poisoner.  Yes,  I  shall  tell  the  whole,  dark  tale. 

THE  GENERAL  (rising  from  his  seat  and  coming  forward) 
Ah !  so  you  are  going  to  say  in  the  face  of  justice  all  that 
for  two  days  you  have  concealed  by  such  obstinate  silence — 
vile  and  ungrateful  creature,  fawning  liar! — you  have  killed 
my  daughter.  Are  you  going  to  kill  me  also? 

GERTRUDE 
Ought  I  to  keep  silence  ? — Ought  I  to  speak  ? 

EAMEL 
General,  be  kind  enough  to  retire.    The  law  commands. 

THE  GENERAL 

The  law  ?  You  represent  the  justice  of  men,  I  represent  the 
justice  of  God,  and  am  higher  than  you  all !  I  am  at  once 
accuser,  tribunal,  sentence  and  executioner — Come,  madanie. 
tell  us  what  you  have  to  say? 

GERTRUDE   (at  the  General's  feet) 
Forgive  me,  sir — Yes — I  am — 


•166  THE  STEPMOTHER 

RAMEL  (aside) 
Oh,  poor  wretch ! 

GERTRUDE  (aside) 

I  cannot  say  it !  Oh !  for  his  honor's  sake,  may  he  never 
know  the  truth.  (Aloud)  I  am  guilty  before  all  the  world, 
but  to  you  I  say,  and  will  repeat  it  to  my  last  breath,  I  am 
innocent !  And  some  future  day  the  truth  shall  speak  from 
out  two  tombs,  the  cruel  truth,  which  will  show  to  you  that 
you  also  are  not  free  from  reproach,  but  from  the  very  blind- 
ness of  your  hate  are  culpable  in  all. 

THE  GENERAL 

I  ?  I  ?  Am  I  losing  my  senses  ?  Do  you  dare  to  accuse  me  ? 
(Perceiving  Pauline.)  Ah!  Ah!  My  God! 


SCENE  ELEVENTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  AND  PAULINE   (supported  by  Ferdi- 
nand). 

PAULINE 

They  have  told  me  all !  This  woman  is  innocent  of  the 
crime  whereof  she  is  accused.  Eeligion  has  at  last  taught  me 
that  pardon  cannot  be  obtained  on  high  except  by  those  who 
leave  it  behind  them  here  below.  I  took  from  Madame  the 
key  of  her  desk,  I  myself  sought  the  poison.  I  myself  tore 
off  the  paper  to  wrap  it  up,  for  I  wished  to  die. 

GERTRUDE 

0  Pauline!  Take  my  life,  take  all  I  love — Oh,  doctor, 
save  her! 

THE  MAGISTRATE 
Is  this  the  truth,  mademoiselle  ? 


THE  STEPMOTHER  167 

PAULINE 
The  truth,  yes,  for  the  dying  alone  speak  it— 

THE  MAGISTRATE 
We  know  then  actually  nothing  about  this  business. 

PAULINE  (to  Gertrude) 

Do  you  know  why  I  came  to  draw  you  from  the  abyss  which 
had.  engulfed  you  ?  It  is  because  Ferdinand  spoke  to  me  a 
word  which  brought  me  back  from  the  tomb.  He  has  so  great 
a  horror  of  being  left  with  you  in  life  that  he  follows  me,  and 
will  follow  me  to  the  grave,  where  we  shall  rest  together, 
wedded  in  death. 

GERTRUDE 

Ferdinand!  Ah,  my  God!  At  what  a  price  have  I  been 
saved ! 

THE  GENERAL 

But  unhappy  child,  wherefore  must  you  die?  Am  I  not, 
have  I  ceased  for  one  moment  to  be  a  good  father?  And  yet 
they  say  that  I  am  culpable. — 

FERDINAND 

Yes,  General,  I  alone  can  give  the  answer  to  the  riddle,  and 
can  explain  to  you  your  guilt. 

THE  GENERAL 

You,  Ferdinand,  you  to  whom  I  offered  my  daughter,  you 
who  loved  her — 

FERDINAND 

My  name  is  Ferdinand  Comte  de  Marcandal,  son  of  General 
Marcandal.  Do  you  understand? 

THE  GENERAL 

Ah !  son  of  a  traitor !  What  could  you  bring  to  my  home 
but  death  and  treachery! — Defend  yourself! — 


168  THE  STEPMOTHER 

FERDINAND 
Would  you  fight,  General,  with  the  dead?     (He  falls.) 

GERTRUDE  (rushes  to  Ferdinand  with  a  cry) 
Oh!  (She  recoils  before  the  General,  and  approaches  his 
daughter,  then  draws  forth  a  phial,  but  immediately  flings  it 
away.)  I  will  condemn  myself  to  live  for  this  old  man  !  (The 
General  kneels  beside  his  dying  daughter.)  Doctor,  what  will 
become  of  him?  Is  he  likely  to  lose  his  reason? 

THE  GENERAL    (stammering  like  a  man  who  has  lost  his 

speech) 
I—  I—  I— 

VEENON 
General,  what  is  it? 

THE  GENERAL 
I — I  am  trying —  to  pray — for  my  daughter ! 

Final  Curtain 


MERCADET 

A  COMEDY  IN  THREE  ACTS 


Presented  for  the  First  Time  in  Paris,  at  the  Theatre  du  Gymnase- 
Dramatique,  August  24,  1851. 


(169) 


PERSONS  OF  THE  PLAY 

MERCADET,  a  speculator. 

MADAME  MERCADET,  his  wife. 

JULIE,  their  daughter. 

MINARD,  clerk  of  Mercadet. 

VERDELIN,  friend  of  Mercadet. 

GOULARD,  "j 

PIERQUIN,  >  creditors  of  Mercadet. 

VlOLETTE,  J 

MERICOURT,  acquaintance  of  Mercadet. 

DE  LA  BRIVE,  suitor  to  Julie. 

JUSTIN,  valet,  ") 

THERESE,  lady's-maid,  >  servants  of  Mercadet. 

VIRGINIE,  cook,  J 

VARIOUS  CREDITORS  OF  MERCADET. 

SCENE:  Paris,  in  the  house  of  Mercadet.     TIME,  about 
1845.) 


(171) 


MERCADET 

ACT  I. 

SCENE  FIRST. 

(A  drawing-room.  A  door  in  the  centre.  Side  doors.  At 
the  front,  to  the  left,  a  mantel-piece  with  a  mirror.  To  the 
right,  a  window,  and  next  it  a  writing  table.  Armchairs.) 

JUSTIN,  VIRGINIE  AND  THERESE. 

JUSTIN  (finishing  dusting  the  room) 
Yes,  my  dears,  he  finds  it  very  hard  to  swim ;  he  is  certain 
to  drown,  poor  M.  Mercadet. 

VIRGINIE  (her  "basket  on  her  arm) 
Honestly,  do  you  think  that? 

JUSTIN 

He  is  ruined !  And  although  there  is  much  fat  to  be  stewed 
from  a  master  while  he  is  financially  embarrassed,  you  must 
not  forget  that  he  owes  us  a  year's  wages,  and  we  had  better 
get  ourselves  discharged. 

THERESE 

Some  masters  are  so  frightfully  stubborn !  I  spoke  to  the 
mistress  disrespectfully  two  or  three  times,  and  she  pretended 
not  to  hear  me. 

VIRGINIE 

Ah !    I  have  been  at  service  in  many  middle-class  houses ; 

(173) 


174  MERCADET 

but  I  have  never  seen  one  like  this ! — I  am  going  to  leave  my 
stove,  and  become  an  actress  in  some  theatre. 

JUSTIN 
All  of  us  here  are  nothing  but  actors  in  a  theatre. 

VIRGINIA 

Yes,  indeed,  sometimes  one  has  to  put  on  an  air  of  aston- 
ishment, as  if  just  fallen  from  the  moon,  when  a  creditor 
appears:  "Didn't  you  know  it,  sir?" — "No." — "M.  Mercadet 
has  gone  to  Lyons." — "Ah ! — He  is  away  ?" — "Yes,  his  pros- 
pects are  most  brilliant ;  he  has  discovered  some  coal-mines." — 
"Ah!  So  much  the  better!— When  does  he  return?"— "I  do 
not  know."  Sometimes  I  put  on  an  expression  as  if  I  had 
lost  the  dearest  friend  I  had  in  the  world. 

JUSTIN  (aside) 
That  would  be  her  money. 

VIRGINIE  (pretending  to  cry) 

"Monsieur  and  mademoiselle  are  in  the  greatest  distress. 
It  seems  that  we  are  going  to  lose  poor  Madame  Mercadet. — 
They  have  taken  her  away  to  the  waters ! — Ah !" 

THERESE 

And  then,  there  are  some  creditors  who  are  actual  brutes ! 
They  speak  to  you  as  if  you  were  the  masters ! 

VIRGINIE 

There's  an  end  of  it. — I  ask  them  for  their  bill  and  tell 
them  I  am  going  to  settle. — But  now,  the  tradesmen  refuse  to 
give  anything  without  the  money !  And  you  may  be  sure  that 
I  am  not  going  to  lend  any  of  mine. 

JUSTIN 
Let  us  demand  our  wages. 


MERCADET  175 

VlRGINIE  AND  THERESE 

Let  us  demand  our  wages. 

VlRGINIE 

Who  are  middle-class  people? — Middle-class  people  are 
those  who  spend  a  great  deal  on  their  kitchen — 

JUSTIN 
Who  are  devoted  to  their  servants — 

VlRGINIE 

And  who  leave  them  a  pension.  That  is  how  middle-class 
people  ought  to  behave  to  their  servants. 

THERESE 

The  lady  of  Picardy  speaks  well. — But  all  the  same,  I  pity 
mademoiselle  and  young  Minard,  her  suitor. 

JUSTIN 

M.  Mercadet  is  not  going  to  give  his  daughter  to  a  mis- 
erable bookkeeper  who  earns  no  more  than  eighteen  hundred 
francs  a  year; — he  has  better  views  for  her  than  that. 

THERESE  AND  VIRGINIE. 
Who  is  the  man  he  thinks  of  ? 

JUSTIN 

Yesterday  two  fine  young  gentlemen  came  here  in  a  car- 
riage, and  their  groom  told  old  Gruneau  that  one  of  them 
was  going  to  marry  Mile.  Mercadet. 

VlRGINIE 

You  don't  mean  to  say  so !  Are  those  gentlemen  in  yellow 
gloves,  with  fine  flowered  waistcoats,  going  to  marry  made- 
moiselle ? 


176  MERCADET 

JUSTIN 
Not  both  of  them,  lady  of  Picardy. 

VIRGINIE 

The  panels  of  their  carriage  shone  like  satin. — Their  horse 
had  rosettes  here.  (She  points  to  her  ears.)  It  was  held  by 
a  boy  of  eight,  fair,  with  frizzed  hair  and  top  boots.  He 
looked  as  sly  as  a  mouse — a  very  Cupid,  though  he  swore  like  a 
trooper.  His  master  is  as  fine  as  a  picture,  with  a  big  diamond 
in  his  scarf.  It  ain't  possible  that  a  handsome  young  man, 
who  owns  such  a  turnout  as  that  is  going  to  be  the  husband  of 
Mile.  Mercadet?  I  can't  believe  it! 

JUSTIN 

You  don't  know  M.  Mercadet!  I,  who  have  been  in  his 
house  for  the  last  six  years,  and  have  seen  him  since  his 
troubles  fighting  with  his  creditors,  can  believe  him  capable 
of  anything,  even  of  growing  rich ;  sometimes  I  say  to  myself 
he  is  utterly  ruined!  Yellow  auction  placards  flame  at  his 
door.  He  receives  reams  of  stamped  creditor's  notices,  which 
I  sell  by  the  pound  for  waste  paper  without  being  noticed. — 
But  presto !  Up  he  bobs  again. — He  is  triumphant.  And 
what  devices  he  has ! — There  is  a  new  one  every  day !  First 
of  all,  it  is  a  scheme  for  wooden  pavements — then  it  is  duke- 
doms, ponds,  mills.  I  don't  know  where  the  leakage  is  in  his 
cash  box;  he  finds  it  so  hard  to  fill;  for  it  empties  itself  as 
easily  as  a  drained  wine-glass !  And  always  crowds  of  credi- 
tors ! — How  well  he  turns  them  away ! — Sometimes  I  have  seen 
them  come  with  the  intention  of  carrying  off  everything  and 
throwing  him  into  prison.  But  when  he  talks  to  them  they 
end  by  being  the  best  of  friends,  and  part  with  cordial  hand- 
shakes !  There  are  some  men  who  can  tame  jackals  and  lions. 
That's  not  a  circumstance ;  M.  Mercadet  can  tame  creditors ! 

THERESE 

One  of  them  is  not  quite  so  easily  managed ;  and  that  is  M. 
Pierquin. 


MERCADET  177 

JUSTIN 

He  is  a  tiger  who  feeds  on  bankrupts.    And  to  think  of  poor 
old  Violette! 

VlRGINIB 

He  is  both  creditor  and  beggar — I  always  feel  inclined  to 
give  him  a  plate  of  soup. 

JUSTIN 
And  Goulard! 

THERESE 

A  bill  discounter  who  would  like  very  much  to — to  discount 
me. 

VIRGINIE  (amid  a  general  laugh) 
I  hear  madame  coming. 

JUSTIN 

Let  us  keep  a  civil  tongue  in  our  heads,  and  we  shall  learn 
something  about  the  marriage. 


SCENE  SECOND. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  MME.  MERCADET. 

MME.  MERCADET 
Justin,  have  you  executed  the  commissions  I  gave  you? 

JUSTIN 

Yes,  madame,  but  they  refused  to  deliver  the  dresses,  the 
hats,  and  indeed  all  the  things  you  ordered  until — 

VlBGINIB 

And  I  also  have  to  inform  madame  that  the  tradesmen  are 
no  longer  willing — 


178  MERCADET 

MME.  MERCADET 
I  understand. 

JUSTIN 

The  creditors  are  the  cause  of  the  whole  trouble.    I  wish  I 

knew  how  to  get  even  with  them. 

MME.  MERCADET 
The  best  way  to  do  so  would  be  to  pay  them. 

JUSTIN 
They  would  be  mightily  surprised. 

MME.  MERCADET 

It  is  useless  to  conceal  from  you  the  excessive  anxiety  which 
I  suffer  over  the  condition  of  my  husband's  affairs.  We  shall 
doubtless  be  in  need  of  your  discretion — for  we  can  depend 
upon  you,  can  we  not? 

ALL 
You  need  not  mention  it,  madame. 

VIRGINIE 
We  were  just  saying,  what  excellent  employers  we  had. 

THERESE 
And  that  we  would  go  through  fire  and  water  for  you ! 

JUSTIN 
We  were  saying — (Mercadet  appears  unnoticed.) 

MME.  MERCADET 

Thank  you  all,  you  are  good  creatures — (Mercadet  shrugs 
his  shoulders.)  Your  master  needs  only  time,  he  has  so  many 
schemes  in  his  head! — a  rich  suitor  has  offered  himself  for 
Mile.  Julie,  and  if — 


MERCADET  179 

SCENE  THIRD. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  MERCADET. 

MERCADET  (interrupting  his  wife) 

My  dearest!  (The  servants  draw  back  a  little.  In  a  low 
voice  to  madame)  And  so  this  is  how  you  speak  to  the  serv- 
ants! To-morrow  they  laugh  at  us.  (To  Justin)  Justin, 
go  at  once  to  M.  Verdelin's  house,  and  ask  him  to  come  here, 
as  I  want  to  speak  to  him  about  a  piece  of  business  that  will 
not  admit  of  delay.  Assume  an  air  of  mystery,  for  I  must 
have  him  come.  You,  Therese,  go  to  the  tradesmen  of  Mad- 
ame de  Mercadet,  and  tell  them,  sharply,  that  they  must  send 
the  things  that  have  been  ordered. — They  will  be  paid  for — 
yes — and  cash,  too — go  at  once.  (Justin  and  Therese  start.) 
Ah! — (They  stop.)  If — these  people  come  to  the  house 
again,  ask  them  to  enter.  (Mme.  Mercadet  takes  a  seat.) 

JUSTIN 
These — these  people  ? — 

THERESE  AND  VIRGINIE. 
These  people?    Eh! 

MERCADET 
Yes,  these  people — these  creditors  of  mine  I — 

MME.  MERCADET 
How  is  this,  my  dear  ? 

MERCADET  (taking  a  seat  opposite  his  wife) 
I  am  weary  of  solitude — I  want  their  society.     (To  Justin 
and  Therese)     That  will  do.     (They  leave  the  room.) 


180  MERCADET 

SCENE  FOURTH. 
MERCADET,  MME.  MERCADET  AND  VIRGINIB. 

MERCADET  (to  Virginie) 
Has  madame  given  you  any  orders  ? 

VIRGINIE 
No,  sir,  and  besides  the  tradespeople — 

MERCADET 

I  hope  you  will  do  yourself  credit  to-day.  We  are  going  to 
have  four  people  to  dinner — Verdelin  and  his  wife,  M.  de 
Mericourt  and  M.  de  la  Brive — so  there  will  be  seven  of  us. 
Such  dinners  are  the  glory  of  great  cooks !  You  must  have 
a  fine  fish  after  the  soup,  then  two  entrees,  very  delicately 
cooked — 

VIRGINIE 
But,  sir,  the  trades — 

MERCADET 

For  the  second  course — ah,  the  second  course  ought  to  be  at 
once  rich  and  brilliant,  yet  solid.  The  second  course — 

VIRGINIE 
But  the  tradespeople — 

MERCADET 

Nonsense !  You  annoy  me — To  talk  about  tradespeople  on 
the  day  when  my  daughter  and  her  intended  are  to  meet ! — 

VIRGINIE 
They  won't  supply  anything. 

MERCADET 
What  have  we  got  to  do  with  tradespeople  that  won't  take 


MERCADET  181 

our  trade  ?  We  must  get  others.  You  must  go  to  their  com- 
petitors, you  must  give  them  my  custom,  and  they  will  tip  you 
for  it. 

VIRGINIE 
And  how  shall  I  pay  those  that  I  am  giving  up  ? 

MERCADET 
Don't  worry  yourself  about  that, — it  is  my  business. 

VIRGINIE 
But  if  they  ask  me  to  pay  them — 

MERCADET  (aside,  rising  to  his  feet) 
This  girl  has  money  of  her  own.  (Aloud)  Virginie,  in 
these  days,  credit  is  the  sole  wealth  of  government.  My  trades- 
people misunderstand  the  laws  of  their  country,  they  will 
show  themselves  unconstitutional  and  utter  radicals,  unless 
they  leave  me  alone. — Don't  you  trouble  your  head  about 
people  who  raise  an  insurrection  against  the  vital  principles 
of  all  rightly  constituted  states !  What  you  have  got  to  attend 
to,  is  dinner, — that  is  your  duty,  and  I  hope  that  on  this 
occasion  you  will  show  yourself  to  be  what  you  are,  a  first- 
class  cook ! — And  if  Mme.  Mercadet,  when  she  settles  with 
you  on  the  day  after  my  daughter's  wedding,  finds  that  she 
owes  you  anything,  I  will  hold  myself  liable  for  it  all. 

VIRGINIE  (hesitating) 
Sir— 

MERCADET 

Now  go  about  your  business.  I  give  you  here  an  opportunity 
of  gaining  an  interest  of  ten  per  cent  every  six  months ! — and 
that  is  better  than  the  savings  banks  will  do  for  you. 

VIRGINIE 
That  it  is ;  they  only  give  four  per  cent  a  year ! 


182  MERCADET 

MEEOADET   (whispering  to  his  wife) 
What  did  I  tell  you  ! — (To  Virginie)   How  can  you  run  the 
risk  of  putting  your  money  into  the  hands  of  strangers — You 
are  quite  clever  enough  to  invest  it  yourself,  and  here  your 
little  nest-egg  will  remain  in  ycyur  own  possession. 

VIRGINIE 

Ten  per  cent  every  six  months! — I  suppose  that  madame 
will  give  me  the  particulars  with  regard  to  the  second  course. 
I  must  start  to  work  on  it.  (Exit.) 


SCENE  FIFTH. 
MERCADET  AND  MME.  MERCADET. 

MERCADET  (watching  Virginie  as  she  goes  out) 
That  girl  has  a  thousand  crowns  of  our  good  money  in  the 
savings  bank,  so  that  we  needn't  worry  about  the  kitchen  for 
awhile. 

MME.  MERCADET 
Ah !  sir,  how  can  you  stoop  to  such  a  thing  as  this  ? 

MERCADET 

Madame,  these  are  mere  petty  details;  don't  bother  about 
the  means  to  the  end.  You,  a  little  time  ago,  were  trving  to 
control  your  servants  by  kindness,  but  it  is  necessary  to  com- 
mand and  compel  them,  and  to  do  it  briefly,  like  Napoleon. 

MME.  MERCADET 
How  can  you  order  them  when  you  don't  pay  them  ? 

MERCADET 
You  must  pay  them  by  a  bluff. 


MERCADET  183 

MME.  MERCADET 

Sometimes  you  can  obtain  by  affection  whaj;  is  not  attainable 
by- 

MERCADET 

By  affection !  Ah !  Little  do  you  know'  the  age  in  which  we 
live — To-day,  madame,  wealth  is  everything, family  is  nothing; 
there  are  no  families,  but  only  individuals !  The  future  of  each 
one  is  to  be  determined  by  the  public  funds.  A  young  girl 
when  she  needs  a  dowry  no  longer  appeals  to  her  family,  but 
to  a  syndicate.  The  income  of  the  King  of  England  comes 
from  an  insurance  company.  The  wife  depends  for  funds,  not 
upon  her  husband,  but  upon  the  savings  bank! — Debts  are 
paid,  not  to  creditors,  but  to  the  country,  through  an  agency, 
which  manages  a  sort  of  slave-trade  in  white  people !  All  our 
duties  are  arranged  by  coupons — The  servants  which  we 
exchange  for  them  are  no  longer  attached  to  their  masters, 
but  if  you  hold  their  money  they  will  be  devoted  to  you. 

MME.  MERCADET 

Oh,  sir,  you  who  are  so  honorable,  so  upright,  sometimes 
say  things  to  me  which — 

MERCADET 

And  what  is  said  may  also  be  done,  that  is  what  you  mean, 
isn't  it  ?  Undoubtedly  I  would  do  anything  to  save  myself,  for 
(he  pulls  out  a  five-franc  piece)  this  represents  modern 
honor.  Do  you  know  why  the  dramas  that  have  criminals  for 
their  heroes  are  so  popular?  It  is  because  all  the  audience 
flatter  themselves  and  say,  "at  any  rate,  I  am  much  better  than 
that  fellow!" 

MME.  MERCADET 
My  dear ! 

MERCADET 

For  my  part  I  have  an  excuse,  for  I  am  bearing  the  burden 
of  my  partner's  crime — of  that  fellow  Godeau,  who  absconded, 


184  MERCADET 

carrying  with  him  the  cash  box  of  our  house! — And  besides 
that,  what  disgrace  is  it  to  be  in  debtr  What  man  is  there 
who  does  not  owe  his  father  his  existence?  He  can  never 
repay  that  debt.  The  earth  is  constantly  bankrupt  to  the  sun. 
Life,  madame,  is  a  perpetual  loan !  Am  I  not  superior  to  my 
creditors?  I  have  their  money,  when  they  can  only  expect 
mine.  I  do  not  ask  anything  of  them,  and  yet  they  are  con- 
stantly importuning  me. — A  man  who  does  not  owe  anything 
is  not  thought  about  by  any  one,  while  my  creditors  take  a 
keen  interest  in  me. 

MME.  MERCADET 

They  take  rather  too  much !  To  owe  and  to  pay  is  well 
enough — but  to  borrow  without  any  prospect  of  returning — 

MERCADET 

You  feel  a  great  deal  of  compassion  for  my  creditors,  but 
our  indebtedness  to  them  springs  from — 

MME.  MERCADET 
Their  confidence  in  us,  sir. 

MERCADET 

No,  but  from  their  greed  of  gain !  The  speculator  and  the 
broker  are  one  and  the  same — each  of  them  aims  at  sudden 
wealth.  I  have  done  a  favor  to  all  my  creditors,  and  they  all 
expect  to  get  something  out  of  me !  I  should  be  most  unhappy 
but  for  the  secret  consciousness  I  have  that  they  are  selfish  and 
avaricious — so  that  you-  will  see  in  a  few  moments  how  I  will 
make  each  of  them  play  out  his  little  comedy.  (He  sits  down.) 

MME.  MERCADET 
You  have  actually  ordered  them  to  be  admitted? 

MERCADET 
That  I  may  meet  them  as  I  ought  to ! — (taking  her  hand.) 


MERCADET  185 

I  am  at  the  end  of  my  resources ;  the  time  has  come  for  a  mas- 
ter-stroke, and  Julie  must  come  to  our  assistance. 

MME.  MERCADET 
What,  my  daughter! 

MERCADET 

My  creditors  are  pressing  me,  and  harassing  me.  I  must 
manage  to  make  a  brilliant  match  for  Julie.  This  will  dazzle 
them;  they  will  give  me  more  time.  But  in  order  that  this 
brilliant  marriage  may  take  place,  these  gentlemen  must  give 
me  more  money. 

MME,  MERCADET 
They  give  you  more  money! 

MERCADET 

Isn't  there  need  of  it  for  the  dresses  which  they  are  sending 
to  you,  and  for  the  trousseau  which  I  am  giving?  And  a  suit- 
able trousseau  to  go  with  the  dowry  of  two  hundred  thousand 
francs,  will  cost  fifteen  thousand. 

MME.  MERCADET 
But  you  are  utterly  unable  to  give  such  a  dowry. 

MERCADET    (rising) 

All  the  more  reason  why  I  should  give  the  trousseau.  Now 
this  is  what  we  stand  in  need  of:  twelve  or  fifteen  thousand 
francs  for  the  trousseau,  and  a  thousand  crowns  to  pay  the 
tradesmen  and  to  prevent  any  appearance  of  straitened  cir- 
cumstances in  our  house,  when  M.  de  la  Brive  arrives. 

MME.  MERCADET 
How  can  you  count  on  your  creditors  for  that? 

MERCADET 
Don't  they  now  belong  to  the  family?    Can  you  find  any 


186  MERCADET 

relation  who  is  as  anxious  as  they  are  to  see  me  wealthy  and 
rich?  Eelations  are  always  a  little  envious  of  the  happiness 
or  the  wealth  which  conies  to  us;  the  creditor's  joy  alone  is 
sincere.  If  I  were  to  die,  I  should  have  at  my  funeral  more 
creditors  than  relations,  and  while  the  latter  carried  their 
mourning  in  their  hearts  or  on  their  heads,  the  former  would 
carry  it  in  their  ledgers  and  purses.  I":  is  here  that  my  depart- 
ure would  leave  a  genuine  void !  The  heart  forgets,  and  crape 
disappears  at  the  er.d  of  a  year,  but  the  account  which  is  un- 
paid is  ineffaceable,  and  the  void  remains  eternally  unfilled. 

MME.  MERCADET 

My  dear,  I  know  the  people  to  whom  you  are  indebted,  and 
I  am  quite  certain  that  you  will  obtain  nothing  from  them. 

MERCADET 

I  shall  obtain  both  time  and  money  from  them,  rest  assured 
of  that.  (Mme.  Mercadet  is  perturbed.)  Don't  you  see,  my 
dear,  that  creditors  when  once  they  have  opened  their  purses 
are  like  gamblers  who  continue  to  stake  their  money  in  order 
to  recover  their  first  losses  ?  ( Growing  excited. )  Yes  !  they 
are  inexhaustible  gold  mines !  If  a  man  has  no  father  to  leave 
him  a  fortune,  he  finds  his  creditors  are  so  many  indefatigable 
uncles. 

JUSTIN    (entering) 

M.  Goulard  wishes  to  know  if  it  is  true  that  you  desire  to 
see  him  ? 

MERCADET   (to  his  wife) 

My  message  astounded  him.  (To  Justin)  Beg  him  to  come 
in.  (Justin  goes  out. )  Goulard !  The  most  intractable  of 
them  all ! — who  has  three  bailiffs  in  his  employ.  But  for- 
tunately he  is  a  greedy  though  timid  speculator  who  engages 
in  the  most  risky  affairs  and  trembles  all  the  time  they  are 
being  conducted 


MERCADET  187 

JUSTIN  (announcing) 
M.Goulard!     (Exit  Justin.) 


SCENE  SIXTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  GOULARD. 

GOULARD  (in  anger) 
Ah !  you  can  be  found,  sir,  when  you  want  to  be ! 

MME.  MERCADET  (aside  to  her  husband) 
My  dear,  how  angry  he  seems ! 

MERCADET  (making  a  sign  that  she  should  be  calm) 
This  is  one  of  my  creditors,  my  dear. 

GOULARD 
Yes,  and  I  shan't  leave  this  house  until  you  pay  me. 

MERCADET  (aside) 

You  shan't  leave  this  house  until  you  give  me  some  money — 
(Aloud)  Ah !  you  have  persecuted  me  most  unkindly — me,  a 
man  with  whom  you  have  had  such  extensive  dealings  ! — 

GOULARD 
Dealings  which  have  not  always  been  to  my  advantage. 

MERCADET 

All  the  more  credit  to  you,  for  if  advantages  were  the  sole 
results  of  business,  everybody  would  become  a  money-lender. 

GOULARD 
I  hope  you  haven't  asked  me  to  come  here,  in  order  to  show 


188  MERCADET 

me  how  clever  you  are !    I  know  that  you  are  cleverer  than  I 
am,  for  you  have  got  over  me  in  money  matters. 

MERCADET 

Well,  money  matters  have  some  importance.  (To  his  wife) 
Yes,  yes,  you  see  in  this  man  one  who  has  hunted  me  as  if  I 
were  a  hare.  Come,  come,  Goulard,  admit  it,  you  have  be- 
haved badly.  Anybody  but  myself  would  have  taken  ven- 
geance on  you — for  of  course  I  could  cause  you  to  lose  a  con- 
siderable sum  of  money. 

GOULARD 

So  you  could,  if  you  didn't  pay  me ;  but  you  shall  pay  me — 
your  obligations  are  now  in  the  hands  of  the  law. 

MME.  MERCADET 
Of  the  law? 

MERCADET 

Of  the  law !  You  are  losing  your  senses,  you  don't  know 
what  you  are  doing,  you  are  ruining  us  both — yourself  and 
*ne — at  the  same  time. 

GOULARD  (anxiously) 
How  ? — You — that  of  course  is  possible — but — but — me  ? 

MERCADET 

Both  of  us,  I  tell  you ! — Quick,  sit  down  there — write, 
Write — ! 

GOULARD  (mechanically  taking  the  pen) 
Write — write  what? 

MERCADET 

Write  to  Delannoy  that  he  must  make  them  stay  the  pro- 
ceedings, and  give  me  the  thousand  crowns  which  I  absolutely 
need. 


MERCADET  189 

GOULARD  (throwing  down  the  pen) 
That  is  very  likely,  indeed ! 

MERCADET 

You  hesitate,  and,  when  I  am  on  the  eve  of  marrying 
my  daughter  to  a  man  immensely  wealthy — that  is  the  time 
you  choose  to  cause  my  arrest.  And  by  that  means  you  are 
killing  both  your  capital  and  interest ! 

GOULARD 
Ah !  you  are  going  to  marry  your  daughter — 

MERCADET 

To  the  Comte  de  la  Brive;  he  possesses  as  many  thousand 
francs  as  he  is  years  old ! 

GOULARD 

Then  if  he  is  up  in  years,  there  is  reason  for  giving  you 
some  delay.  But  the  thousand  crowns — the  thousand  crowns — 
never. — I  am  quite  decided  on  that  point.  I  will  give  you 
nothing,  neither  delay  nor — I  must  go  now — 

MERCADET  (with  energy) 

Very  well !  You  can  go  if  you  like,  you  ungrateful  fellow ! 
— But  don't  forget  that  I  have  done  my  best  to  save  you. 

GOULARD  (turning  back) 
Me? — To  save  me — from  what? 

MERCADET  (aside) 

I  have  him  now.  (Aloud)  From  what? — From  the  most 
complete  ruin. 

GOULARD 
Ruin  ?    It  is  impossible. 


190  MERCADET 

MEECADET  (taking  a  seat) 

What  is  the  matter  with  you  ?  You,  a  man  of  intelligence, 
of  ability — a  strong  man,  and  yet  you  cause  me  all  this 
trouble  !  You  came  here  and  I  felt  absolutely  enraged  against 
you — not  because  I  was  your  friend,  I  confess  it,  but  through 
selfishness.  I  look  upon  our  interests  as  identical.  I  said  to 
myself:  I  owe  him  so  much  that  he  is  sure  to  give  me  his 
assistance  when  I  have  such  a  grand  chance — like  the  one  at 
this  moment !  And  you  are  going  to  let  out  the  whole  business 
and  to  lose  everything  for  the  sake  of  a  paltry  sum !  Every- 
thing! You  are  perhaps  right  in  refusing  me  the  thousand 
crowns — It  is  better,  perhaps,  to  bury  them  in  your  coffers 
with  the  rest.  All  right !  Send  me  to  prison !  Then,  when 
all  is  gone,  you'll  have  to  look  somewhere  else  for  a  friend ! 

GOULAED  (in  a  tone  of  self-reproach) 
Mercadet ! — my  dear  Mercadet ! — But  is  it  actually  true  ? 

MEECADET  (rising  from  Ms  seat) 

Is  it  true?  (To  his  wife)  You  would  not  believe  he  was 
so  stupid.  (To  Goulard)  She  has  ended  by  becoming  a  dar- 
ing speculator.  (To  his  wife)  I  may  tell  you,  my  dear,  that 
Goulard  is  going  to  invest  a  large  sum  in  our  great  enterprise. 

MME.  MEECADET  (ashamed) 
Sir! 

MEECADET 
What  a  misfortune  it  will  be  if  it  does  not  turn  out  well. 

GOULARD 
Mercadet ! — Are  you  talking  about  the  Basse-Indre  mines  ? 

MEECADET 

Of  course  I  am.  (Aside)  Ah!  You  have  some  of  the 
Basse-Indre  stock,  I  see. 


MERCADET  191 

GOULABD 

But  the  investment  seems  to  me  first-class. 

MERCADET 
First-class — Yes,  for  those  who  sold  out  yesterday. 

GOULAED 

Have  any  stockholders  sold  out? 

MERCADET 
Yes,  privately. 

GOULARD 
Good-bye.    Thanks,  Mercadet ;  madame,  accept  my  respects. 

MERCADET  (stopping  him) 
Goulard ! 

GOULAED 
Eh? 

MERCADET 
What  about  this  note  to  Delannoy  ? 

GOULARD 
I  will  speak  to  him  about  the  postponement — 

MERCADET 

No ;  write  to  him ;  and  in  the  meantime  I  will  find  some  one 
who  will  buy  your  stock. 

GOULARD  (sitting  down) 
All  my  Basse-Indre?    (He  takes  up  the  pen.) 

MERCADET  (aside) 

Here  you  see  the  honest  man,  ever  ready  to  rob  his  neighbor. 
(Aloud)  Very  well,  write — ordering  a  postponement  of  three 
months. 


192  MERCADET 

GOULARD  (writing) 
Three  months !    There  you  have  it. 

MERCADET 

The  man  I  allude  to,  who  buys  in  secret  for  fear  of  causing 
a  rise,  wants  to  get  three  hundred  shares;  do  you  happen  to 
have  three  hundred? 

GOULARD 
I  have  three  hundred  and  fifty. 

MERCADET 

Fifty  more !  Never  mind  !  he'll  take  them  all.  (Examining 
what  Goulard  has  written)  Have  you  mentioned  the  thousand 
crowns  ? 

GOULARD 
And  what  is  your  friend's  name? 

MERCADET 
His  name  ?    You  haven't  mentioned  ? — 

GOULARD 
His  name! 

MERCADET 
The  thousand  crowns. 

GOULARD 

What  a  devil  of  a  man  he  is !  (He  writes.)  There,  you  have 
it! 

MERCADET 
His  name  is  Pierquin. 

GOULARD  (rising) 
Pierquin. 

MERCADET 
He  at  least  is  the  nominal  buyer. — Go  to  your  house  and  I 


MERCADET  193 

Brill  send  him  to  you ;  it  is  never  a  good  thing  to  run  after  a 
purchaser. 

GOULARD 

Never! — You  have  saved  my  life.  Good-hye,  my  friend. 
Madame,  accept  my  prayers  for  the  happiness  of  your  daugh- 
ter. (Exit.) 

MERCADET 
One  of  them  captured !    Now  watch  me  get  the  others ! 


SCENE  SEVENTH. 
MME.  MERCADET,  MERCADET,  THEN  JULIE. 

MME.  MERCADET 

Is  there  any  truth  in  what  you  just  now  said  ?  I  could  not 
quite,  follow  you. 

MERCADET 

It  is  to  the  interest  of  my  friend  Verdelin  to  cause  a  panic 
in  Basse-Indre  stock ;  this  stock  has  been  for  a  long  time  very 
risky  and  has  suddenly  become  of  first-class  value,  through 
the  discovery  of  certain  beds  of  mineral,  which  are  known  only 
to  those  on  the  inside. — Ah  !  If  I  could  but  invest  a  thousand 
crowns  in  it  my  fortune  would  be  made.  But,  of  course,  our 
main  object  at  present  is  the  marriage  of  Julie. 

MME.  MERCADET 
.  You  are  well  acquainted  with  M.  de  la  Brive,  are  you  not? 

MERCADET 

I  have  dined  with  him.  He  has  a  charming  apartment,  fine 
plate,  a  silver  dessert  service,  bearing  his  arms,  so  that  it 
could  not  have  been  borrowed.  Our  daughter  is  going  to  make 


194  MERCADET 

a  fine  match,  and  he — when  either  one  of  a  married  couple  is 
happy,  it  is  all  right.    (Julie  enters.) 

MME.  MERCADET 

Here  comes  our  daughter.  Julie,  your  father  and  I  have 
something  to  say  to  you  on  a  subject  which  is  always  agreeable 
to  a  young  girl. 

JULIE 
M.  Minard  has  then  spoken  to  you,  father? 

MERCADET 

M.  Minard !  Did  you  expect,  madame,  to  find  a  M.  Minard 
reigning  in  the  heart  of  your  daughter  ?  Is  not  this  M.  Min- 
ard that  under  clerk  of  mine  ? 

JULIE 
Yes,  papa. 

MERCADET 
Do  you  love  him? 

JULIE 
Yes,  papa. 

MERCADET 
But  besides  loving,  it  is  necessary  for  a  person  to  be  loved. 

MME.  MERCADET 
Does  he  love  you? 

JULIE 
Yes,  mamma! 

MERCADET 

Yes,  papa;  yes,  mamma;  why  don't  you  say  mammy  and 
daddy? — As  soon  as  daughters  have  passed  their  majority  they 
begin  to  talk  as  if  they  were  just  weaned.  Be  polite  enough 
to  address  your  mother  as  madame. 

JULIE 
Yes,  monsieur. 


MERCADET  195 

MERCADET 

Oh!  you  may  address  me  as  papa.  I  shan't  be  annoyed 
at  that.  What  proof  have  you  that  he  loves  you  ? 

JULIE 
The  best  proof  of  all ;  he  wishes  to  marry  me. 

MERCADET 

It  is  quite  true,  as  has  been  said,  that  young  girls,  like  little 
children,  have  answers  ready  enough  to  knock  one  silly.  Let 
me  tell  you,  mademoiselle,  that  a  clerk  with  a  salary  of  eigh- 
teen hundred  francs  does  not  know  how  to  love.  He  hasn't 
got  the  time,  he  has  to  work  too  hard — 

MME.  MERCADET 
But,  unhappy  child — 

MERCADET 

Ah!  A  lucky  thought  strikes  me!  Let  me  talk  to  her. 
Julie,  listen  to  me.  I  will  marry  you  to  Minard.  (Julie 
smiles  with  delight.)  Now,  look  here,  you  haven't  got  a  single 
sou,  and  you  know  it ;  what  is  going  to  become  of  you  a  week 
after  your  marriage  ?  Have  you  thought  about  that  ? 

JULIE 
Yes,  papa1 — 

MME.  MERCADET  (with  sympathy,  to  her  husband) 
The  poor  child  is  mad. 

MERCADET 

Yes,  she  is  in  love.  (To  Julie)  Tell  me  all  about  it,  Julie. 
I  am  not  now  your  father,  but  your  confidant ;  I  am  listening. 

JULIE 
After  our  marriage  we  will  still  love  each  other. 


196  MERCADET 

MEBOADET 

But  will  Cupid  shoot  you  bank  coupons  at  the  end  of  Ma 
arrows  ? 

JULIE 

Father,  we  shall  lodge  in  a  small  apartment,  at  the  extrem- 
ity of  the  Faubourg,  on  the  fourth  story,  if  necessary ! — And 
if  it  can't  be  helped,  I  will  be  his  house-maid.  Oh!  I  will 
take  an  immense  delight  in  the  care  of  the  household,  for  I 
shall  know  that  it  will  all  be  done  for  him.  I  will  work  for 
him,  while  he  is  working  for  me.  I  will  spare  him  every 
anxiety,  and  he  will  never  know  how  straitened  we  are.  Our 
home  will  be  spotlessly  clean,  even  elegant — You  shall  see ! 
Elegance  depends  upon  such  little  things ;  it  springs  from  the 
soul,  and  happiness  is  at  once  the  cause  and  the  effect  of  it. 
I  can  earn  enough  from  my  painting  to  cost  him  nothing  and 
even  to  contribute  to  the  expenses  of  our  living.  Moreover, 
love  will  help  us  to  pass  through  days  of  hardship.  Adolphe 
has  ambition,  like  all  those  who  are  of  lofty  soul,  and  these 
are  the  successful  men — 

MERCADET 

Success  is  within  reach  of  the  bachelor,  but,  when  a  man  is 
married,  he  exhausts  himself  in  meeting  his  expenses,  and 
runs  after  a  thousand  franc  bill  as  a  dog  runs  after  a  carriage. 

JULIE 

But,  papa,  Adolphe,  has  strength  of  will,  united  with  such 
capacity  that  I  feel  sure  I  shall  see  him  some  day  a  Minister, 
perhaps — 

MERCADET 

In  these  days,  who  is  there  that  does  not  indulge  more  or 
less  the  hope  of  being  a  Minister?  When  a  man  leaves  col- 
lege he  thinks  himself  a  great  poet,  or  a  great  orator!  Do 
you  know  what  your  Adolphe  will  really  become? — Why, 
the  father  of  several  children,  who  will  utterly  disarrange 
your  plans  of  work  and  economy,  who  will  end  by  landing  his 


MERCADET  197 

excellency  in  the  debtor's  prison,  and  who  will  plunge  you 
into  the  most  frightful  poverty.  What  you  have  related  to 
me  is  the  romance  and  not  the  reality  of  life. 

MME.  MERCADET 
Daughter,  there  can  be  nothing  serious  in  this  love  of  yours. 

JULIE 

It  is  a  love  to  which  both  of  us  are  willing  to  sacrifice  every- 
thing. 

MERCADET 
I  suppose  that  your  friend  Adolphe  thinks  that  we  are  rich  ? 

JULIE 
He  ha*  never  spoken  to  me  about  money. 

MERCADET 

Just  so.  I  can  quite  understand  it.  (To  Julie)  Julie,  write 
to  him  at  once,  telling  him  to  come  to  me. 

JULIE  (kissing  him) 
Dear  papa ! 

MERCADET 

And  you  must  marry  M.  de  la  Brive.  Instead  of  living  on 
q,  fourth  floor  in  a  suburb,  you  will  have  a  fine  house  in  the 
Chaussee-d'Antin,  and,  if  you  are  not  the  wife  of  a  Minister, 
you  perhaps  will  be  the  wife  of  a  peer  of  France.  I  am  sorry, 
my  daughter,  that  I  have  no  more  to  offer  you.  Remember, 
you  can  have  no  choice  in  the  matter,  for  M.  Minard  is  going 
to  give  you  up. 

JULIE 

Oh !  he  will  never  do  that,  papa.    He  will  win  your  heart— 

MME.  MERCADET 
My  dear,  suppose  he  loves  her? 


198  MERCADET 

MEECADET 
He  is  deceiving  her — 

JULIE 

I  shouldn't  mind  being  always  deceived  in  that  way.  (A 
bell  is  heard  without.) 

MME.  MERCADET 
Some  one  is  ringing,  and  we  have  no  one  to  open  the  door. 

MERCADET 
That  is  all  right.    Let  them  ring. 

MME.  MERCADET 
I  am  all  the  time  thinking  that  Godeau  may  return. ' 

MERCADET 

After  eight  years  without  any  news,  you  are  still  expecting 
Godeau !  You  seem  to  me  like  those  old  soldiers  who  are  wait- 
ing for  the  return  of  Napoleon. 

MME.  MERCADET 
They  are  ringing  again. 

MERCADET 

Julie,  go  and  see  who  it  is,  and  tell  them  that  your  mother 
and  I  have  gone  out.  If  any  one  is  shameless  enough  to  dis- 
believe a  young  girl — it  must  be  a  creditor — let  him  come  in. 
[(Exit  Julie.) 

MME.  MERCADET 

This  love  she  speaks  of,  and  which,  at  least  on  her  side,  is 
sincere,  disturbs  me  greatly. 

MERCADET 
You  women  are  all  too  romantic. 


MERCADET  199 

JULIE  (returning) 
It  is  M.  Pierquin,  papa. 

MERCADET 

A  creditor  and  usurer — a  vile  and  violent  soul,  who  humors 
me  because  he  thinks  me  a  man  of  resources ;  a  wild  beast  only 
half-tamed  yet  cowed  by  my  audacity.  If  I  showed  fear  he 
would  devour  me.  (Going  to  the  door.)  Come  in,  Pierquin, 
come  in. 


'SCENE  EIGHTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  PIERQUIN. 

PlERQUIN- 

My  congratulations  to  you  all.  I  hear  that  you  are  making 
a  grand  marriage  for  your  daughter.  Mademoiselle  is  to 
marry  a  millionaire ;  the  report  has  already  gone  abroad. 

MERCADET 

A  millionaire? — No,  he  has  only  nine  hundred  thousand 
francs,  at  the  most. 

PIERQUIN 

This  magnificent  prospect  will  induce  a  lot  of  people  to  give 
you  time.  They  are  becoming  devilishly  tired  otf  your  talk 
about  Godeau's  return.  And  I  myself — 

MERCADET 
Were  you  thinking  about  having  me  arrested? 

JULIE 
Arrested ! 

MME.  MERCADET  (to  Pierquin} 
lAhlsir. 


200  MERCADET 

PlERQUIN 

Now  listen  to  me,  you  have  had  two  years,  and  I  never  be- 
fore let  a  bond  go  over  so  long ;  but  this  marriage  is  a  glorious 
invention  and — 

MME.  MERCADET 
An  invention  I 

MERCADET 
Sir,  my  future  son-in-law,  M.  de  la  Brive,  is  a  young  man — 

PIERQUIN 

So  that  there  is  a  real  young  man  in  the  case  ?  How  much 
are  you  going  to  pay  the  young  man  ? 

MME.  MERCADET 
Oh! 

MERCADET  (checking  his  wife  by  a  sign) 
No  more  of  this  insolence !  otherwise,  my  dear  sir,  I  shall 
be  forced  to  demand  a  settlement  of  our  accounts — and,  my 
dear  M.  Pierquin,  you  will  lose  a  good  deal  of  the  price  at 
which  you  sold  your  money  to  me.  And  at  the  rate  of  inter- 
est you  charge,  I  shall  cost  you  more  than  the  value  of  a 
farm  in  Bauce. 

PIERQUIN 
Sir— 

MERCADET   (haughtily) 

Sir,  I  shall  soon  be  so  rich  that  I  will  not  endure  to  be 
twitted  by  any  one — not  even  by  a  creditor. 

PIERQUIN, 
Bnfr- 

MERCADET 

Not  a  word— or  I  will  pay  you!  Come  into  my  private 
room  and  we  will  settle  the  business  about  which  I  asked  you 
to  come. 


MERCADET  201 

PlERQUIN 

I  am  at  your  service,  sir.     (Aside)  What  a  devil  of  a  man ! 
(They  bow  to  the  ladies  and  enter  Mercadefs  room.) 

MERCADET  (following  Pierquin;  aside  to  his  wife) 
The  wild  beast  is  tamed.    I'll  get  this  one,  too. 


SCENE  NINTH. 
MME.  MERCADET,  JULIE,  AND  LATER,  SERVANTS. 

JULIE 
0  mamma!    I  cannot  marry  this  M.  de  la  Brivel 

MME.  MERCADET 
But  he  is  rich,  you  know. 

JULIE 

But  I  prefer  happiness  and  poverty,  to  unhappiness  and 
wealth. 

MME.  MERCADET 

My  child,  happiness  is  impossible  in  poverty,  while  there 
is  no  misfortune  that  wealth  cannot  alleviate. 

JULIE 
How  can  you  say  such  sad  words  to  me? 

MME.  MERCADET 

Children  should  learn  a  lesson  from  the  experience  of 
parents.  We  are  at  present  having  a  very  bitter  taste  of  life's 
vicissitudes.  Take  my  advice,  daughter,  and  marry  wealth. 

JUSTIN  (entering,  followed  ly  Therese  and  Virginie) 
Madame,  we  have  carried  out  the  master's  orders. 


202  MERCADET 

VlRGINIE 

My  dinner  will  be  ready. 

THERESE 
And  the  tradesmen  have  consented. 

JUSTIN 
As  far  as  concerns  M.  Verdelin — 


SCENE  TENTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  MERCADET  (carrying  a  bundle  of 

papers) 

MERCADET 
What  did  my  friend  Verdelin  say? 

JUSTIN 

He  will  be  here  in  a  moment.  He  was  just  on  his  way  here 
to  bring  some  money  to  M.  Bredif,  the  owner  of  this  house. 

MERCADET 

Bredif  is  a  millionaire.  Take  care  that  Verdelin  speaks  to 
me  before  going  up  to  him.  How  did  you  get  on,  Therese, 
with  the  milliners  and  dressmakers  ? 

THERESE 

Sir,  as  soon  as  I  gave  them  a  promise  of  payment,  every  one 
greeted  me  with  smiles. 

MERCADET 
Very  good.    And  shall  we  have  a  fine  dinner,  Virginie? 

VlRGINIE 

You  will  compliment  it,  sir,  when  you  eat  it. 


MERCADET  203 

MERCADET 
And  the  tradespeople? 

VlEGINIB 

They  will  wait  your  time. 

MERCADET 

I  shall  settle  with  you  all  to-morrow.  You  can  go  now. 
(They  go  out.)  A  man  who  has  his  servants  with  him  is  like 
a  minister  who  has  the  press  on  his  side ! — 

MME.  MEBOADET 
And  what  of  Pierquin? 

MERCADET  (showing  the  papers) 

All  that  I  could  extort  from  him  is  as  follows. — He  will 
give  me  time,  and  this  negotiable  paper  in  exchange  for  stock. 
— Also  notes  for  forty-seven  thousand  francs,  to  be  collected 
from  a  man  named  Michonnin,  a  gentleman  broker,  not  con- 
sidered very  solvent,  who  may  be  a  crook  but  has  a  very  rich 
aunt  at  Bordeaux ;  M.  de  la  Brive  is  from  that  district  and  I 
can  learn  from  him  if  there  is  anything  to  be  got  out  of  it. 

MME.  MERCADET 
But  the  tradesmen  will  soon  arrive. 

MERCADET 

I  shall  be  here  to  receive  them.  Now  leave  me,  leave  me, 
my  dears.  (Exeunt  the  two  ladies.) 


SCENE  ELEVENTH. 
MERCADET,  THEN  VIOLETTE. 

MERCADET  (walking  up  and  down) 
Yes,  they  will  soon  be  here !    And  everything  depends  upon 


204  MERCADET 

the  somewhat  slippery  friendship  of  Verdelin — a  man  whose 
fortune  I  made !  Ah !  when  a  man  has  passed  forty  he  learns 
that  the  world  is  peopled  by  the  ungrateful — I  do  not  know 
where  all  the  benefactors  have  gone  to.  Verdelin  and  I  have  a 
high  opinion  of  each  other.  He  owes  me  gratitude,  I  owe  him 
money,  and  neither  of  us  pays  the  other.  And  now,  in  order 
to  arrange  the  marriage  of  Julie,  my  business  is  to  find  a  thou- 
sand crowns  in  a  pocket  which  pretends  to  be  empty — to  find 
entrance  into  a  heart  in  order  to  find  entrance  into  a  cash- 
box  !  What  an  undertaking !  Only  women  can  do  such 
things,  and  with  men  who  are  in  love  with  them. 

JUSTIN  (without) 
Yes,  he  is  in. 

MEECADET 

It  is  he.  (Violette  appears.)  Ah!  my  friend!  It  is  dear 
old  Violette ! 

VIOLETTE 

This  is  the  eleventh  call  within  a  week,  my  dear  M.  Mer- 
cadet,  and  my  actual  necessity  has  driven  me  to  wait  for  you 
three  hours  in  the  street;  I  thought  the  truth  was  told  me 
when  I  was  assured  that  you  were  in  the  country.  But  I 
came  to-day — 

MERCADET 

Ah !  Violette,  old  fellow,  we  are  both  hard  up ! 

VIOLETTE 

Humph !  I  don't  think  so.  For  my  part,  Fve  pledged 
everything  I  could  put  in  the  pawn-shop. 

MERCADET 
So  have  we. 

VIOLETTE 

I  have  never  reproached  you  with  my  ruin,  for  I  believe  it 
is  your  intention  to  enrich  me,  as  well  as  yourself;  but  still, 


MERCADET  205 

fine  words  butter  no  parsnips,  and  I  am  come  to  implore  you 
to  give  me  a  small  sum  on  account,  and  by  so  doing  you  will 
save  the  lives  of  a  wbole  family. 

MERCADET 

My  dear  old  Violette,  you  grieve  me  deeply !  Be  reasonable 
and  I  will  share  with  you.  (In  a  low  voice)  We  have  scarcely 
a  hundred  francs  in  the  house,  and  even  that  is  my  daughter's 
money. 

VIOLETTE 
Is  it  possible !    You,  Mercadet,  whom  I  have  known  eo  rich  ? 

MERCADET 
I  conceal  nothing  from  you. 

VIOLETTE 
Unfortunate  people  owe  it  to  each  other  to  speak  the  truth. 

MERCADET 

Ah!  If  that  were  the  only  thing  they  owed  how  prompt 
would  be  the  payment !  But  keep  this  as  a  secret,  for  I  am  on 
the  point  of  making  a  good  match  for  my  daughter. 

VIOLETTE 

I  have  two  daughters,  sir,  and  they  work  without  hope  of 
being  married !  In  your  present  circumstances  I  cannot  press 
you,  but  my  wife  and  my  daughters  await  my  return  in  the 
deepest  anxiety. 

MERCADET 

Stay  a  moment.    I  will  give  you  sixty  francs. 

VIOLETTE 

Ah !  my  wife  and  my  girls  will  bless  you.  (Aside,  while 
Mercadet  leaves  the  room  for  a  moment.}  The  others  who 
abuse  him  get  nothing  out  of  him,  but  by  appealing  to  his 


206  MERCADET 

pity,  little  by  little  I  get  back  my  money!     (Chuckles  and 
slaps  his  pocket.) 

MERCADET  (on  the  point  of  re-entering  sees  this  action) 

The  beggarly  old  miser!  Sixty  francs  on  account  paid  ten 
times  makes  six  hundred  francs.  Come  now,  I  have  sown 
enough,  it  is  time  to  reap  the  harvest.  (Aloud)  Take  this. 

VIOLETTE 

Sixty  francs  in  gold !  It  is  a  long  time  since  I  have  seen 
such  a  sum.  Good-bye,  we  shan't  forget  to  pray  for  the  speedy 
marriage  of  Mile.  Mercadet. 

MERCADET 

Good-bye,  dear  old  Violette.  (Holding  him  ly  the  hand.) 
Poor  man,  when  I  look  at  you,  I  think  myself  rich — your 
misfortunes  touch  me  deeply.  And  yesterday  I  thought  I 
would  soon  be  on  the  point  of  paying  back  to  you  not  only 
the  interest  but  the  principal  of  what  I  owe  you. 

VIOLETTE  (turning  back) 
Paying  me  back !     In  full ! — 

MERCADET 
It  was  a  close  shave. 

VIOLETTE 


MERCADET 

Imagine,  my  dear  fellow,  that  there  exists  a  most  brilliant 
opportunity,  a  most  magnificent  speculation,  the  most  sublime 
discovery — an  affair  which  appeals  to  the  interest  of  every 
one,  which  will  draw  upon  all  the  exchanges,  and  for  the  reali- 
zation of  which  a  stupid  banker  has  refused  me  the  miserable 
sum  of  a  thousand  crowns — when  there  is  more  than  a  million 
in  sight. 


MERCADET  207 

VlOLETTE 

A  million ! 

MERCADET 

Yes,  a  million,  from  the  start.  Afterwards  no  one  can  calcu- 
late where  the  rage  for  protective  pavement  will  stop. 

VlOLETTE 

Payment? 

MERCADET 

Protective  pavement.  A  pavement  on  which  no  barricade 
can  be  raised. 

VlOLETTE 

Eeally ! 

MERCADET 

You  see,  that  from  henceforth  all  governments  interested 
in  the  preservation  of  order  will  become  our  chief  sharehold- 
ers— Ministers,  princes  and  kings  will  be  our  chief  partners. — ' 
Next  come  the  gods  of  finance,  the  great  bankers,  those  of 
independent  income  in  commerce  and  speculation;  even  the 
socialists,  seeing  that  their  industry  is  ruined,  will  be  forced 
to  buy  stocks  for  a  living  from  me ! 

VlOLETTE 

Yes,  it  is  fine !    It  is  grand ! 

MERCADET 

It  is  sublime  and  philanthropic ! — And  to  think  that  I  have 
been  refused  four  thousand  francs,  wherewith  to  send  out 
advertisements  and  launch  my  prospectus! 

VlOLETTE 

Four  thousand  francs !    I  thought  it  was  only — 

MERCADET 
Four  thousand  francs,  no  more!    And  I  was  to  give  away 


208  MERCADET 

for  the  loan  a  half  interest  in  the  enterprise — that  is  to  say  a 
fortune !    Ten  fortunes ! 

VIOLETTE 
Listen — I  will  see — I  will  speak  to  some  one — 

MERCADET 

Speak  to  no  one !  Keep  it  to  yourself !  The  idea  would  at 
once  be  snatched  up — or  perhaps  they  wouldn't  understand  it 
so  well  as  you  have  immediately  done.  These  money  dealers 
are  so  stupid.  Besides,  I  am  expecting  Verdelin  here — 

VIOLETTE 
Verdelin — but— we  might  perhaps — 

MERCADET 

.    'Twill  be  lucky  for  Verdelin,  if  he  has  the  brains  to  risk 
six  thousand  francs  in  it. 

VIOLETTE 
But  you  said  four  thousand  just  now. 

MERCADET 

It  was  four  thousand  that  they  refused  me,  but  I  need  six 
thousand !  Six  thousand  francs,  and  Verdelin,  whom  I  have 
already  made  a  millionaire  once,  is  likely  to  become  so  three, 
four,  five  times  over !  But  he  will  deserve  it,  for  he  is  a  clever 
fellow,  is  Verdelin. 

VIOLETTE 
Mercadet,  I  will  find  you  the  money. 

MERCADET 

No,  no,  don't  think  of  it.  Besides,  he  will  be  here  in  a 
moment,  and  if  I  am  to  send  him  away  without  concluding 
the  business  with  him,  it  will  be  necessary  to  have  it  settled 


MERCADET  209 

with  some  one  else  before  Verdelin  comes — and,  as  that  is 
impossible — good-bye — and  good  luck — I  shall  certainly  be 
able  to  pay  you  your  thirty  thousand  francs. 

VlOLETTE 

But  say — why  couldn't  I — ? 

MME.  MERCADET  (entering) 
M.  Verdelin  has  come,  my  dear. 

MERCADET  (aside) 

Good,  good  !  (Aloud)  Just  detain  him  a  minute.  (Mme. 
Mercadet  goes  out.)  Well,  good-bye,  dear  old  Violette — 

VIOLETTE    (pulling  out  a  greasy  pocJeetboolc) 
Wait  a  moment — here,  I  have  the  money  with  me — and  will 
give  it  you  beforehand. 

MERCADET 
You !    Six  thousand  francs ! — 

VIOLETTE 
A  friend  asked  me  to  invest  it  for  him,  and — 

MERCADET 

And  you  couldn't  find  a  better  opening.  We'll  sign  the 
contract  presently!  (He  takes  the  bills.)  This  closes  the 
deal — and  so  much  the  worse  for  Verdelin — he  has  missed  a 
gold  mine! 

VIOLETTE 
Well,  I'll  see  you  later. 

MERCADET 

Yes — see  you  later!  You  can  get  out  through  my  study. 
[(He  shows  him  the  way  out.  Mme.  Mercadet  enters.) 


MERCADET 

MME.  MERCADET 


MERCADET  (reappearing) 

Ah !  my  dear !  I  am  an  unfortunate  man !  I  ought  to  blow 
my  brains  out! 

MME.  MERCADET 
Good  heavens !    What  is  the  matter  ? 

MERCADET 

The  matter  is  that  a  moment  ago  I  asked  this  sham  bank- 
rupt Violette  for  six  thousand  francs. 

MME.  MERCADET 
And  he  refused  to  give  them  to  you? 

MERCADET 
On  the  contrary,  he  handed  them  over. 

MME.  MERCADET 
What,  then,  do  you  mean? 

MERCADET 

I  am  an  unlucky  man,  as  I  told  you,  because  he  gave  them 
so  quickly  that  I  could  have  gotten  ten  thousand  if  I  had  only 
known  it. 

MME.  MERCADET 

What  a  man  you  are !  I  suppose  you  know  that  Yerdelin 
is  waiting  for  you. 

MERCADET 

Beg  him  to  come  in.  At  last  I  have  Julie's  trousseau ;  and 
we  now  need  only  enough  money  for  your  dresses  and  for 
household  expenses  until  the  marriage.  Send  in  Verdelin. 


211 


Yes,  he  is  your  friend,  and  of  course  you  will  gain  your  end 
with  him.  (She  goes  out.) 

MEECADET  (alone) 

Yes,  he  is  my  friend !  And  he  has  all  the  pride  that  comes 
with  fortune;  but  he  has  never  had  a  Godeau  (looking  round 
to  see  if  lie  is  alone).  After  all,  Godeau!  I  really  believe 
that  Godeau  has  brought  me  in  more  money  than  he  has  taken 
from  me. 


SCENE  TWELFTH. 
MEBCADET  AND  VERDELIN. 

YERDELIN 

Good-day,  Mercadet.  What  is  doing  now  ?  Tell  me  quickly 
for  I  was  stopped  here  on  my  way  up-stairs  to  Bredif's  apart- 
ment. 

MERCADET 

Oh,  he  can  wait!  How  is  it  that  you  are  going  to  see  a 
man  like  Bredif? 

VERDELIN  ( laughing ) 

My  dear  friend,  if  people  only  visited  those  they  esteem 
they  would  make  no  visits  at  all. 

MERCADET  (laughing  and  taking  his  hand) 
A.  man  wouldn't  go  even  into  his  own  house. 

VERDELIN 
But  tell  me  what  you  want  with  me? 


212  MERCADET 

MERCADET 

Your  question  is  so  sudden  that  it  hasn't  left  me  time  to 
gild  the  pill! 

VERDELIN 

Oh !  my  old  comrade.  I  have  nothing,  and  I  am  frank  to 
say  that  even  if  I  had  I  could  give  you  nothing.  I  have 
already  lent  you  all  that  my  means  permit  me  to  dispose  of; 
I  have  never  asked  you  for  payment,  for  I  am  your  friend 
as  well  as  your  creditor,  and  indeed,  if  my  heart  did  not 
overflow  in  gratitude  towards  you,  if  I  had  not  been  a  man 
different  from  ordinary  men,  the  creditor  would  long  ago 
have  killed  the  man.  I  tell  you  everything  has  a  limit  in 
this  world. 

MERCADET 
Friendship  has  a  limit,  that's  certain;  but  not  misfortune. 

VERDELIN 

If  I  were  rich  enough  to  save  you  altogether,  to  cancel  your 
debt  entirely,  I  would  do  so  with  all  my  heart,  for  I  admire 
your  courage.  But  you  are  bound  to  go  under.  Your  last 
schemes,  although  cleverly  projected,  have  collapsed.  •  You 
have  ruined  your  reputation,  you  are  looked  upon  as  a  dan- 
gerous man.  You  have  not  known  how  to  take  advantage  of 
the  momentary  success  of  your  operations.  When  you  are 
utterly  beggared,  you  will  always  find  bread  at  my  house; 
but  it  is  the  duty  of  a  friend  to  speak  these  plain  truths. 

MERCADET 

What  would  be  the  advantage  of  friendship  unless  it  gave 
us  the  pleasure  of  finding  ourselves  in  the  right,  and  seeing 
a  friend  in  the  wrong — of  being  comfortable  ourselves  and 
seeing  our  friend  in  difficulties  and  of  paying  compliment  to 
ourselves  by  saying  disagreeable  things  to  him?  Is  it  true 
then  that  I  am  little  thought  of  on  'Change? 


MERCADET  213 

VERDELIST 

I  do  not  say  so  much  as  that.  No;  you  still  pass  for  an 
honest  man,  but  necessity  is  forcing  you  to  adopt  expedients — 

MERCADET 

Which  are  not  justified  by  the  success  which  luckier  men 
enjoy!  Ah,  success!  How  many  outrageous  things  go  to 
make  up  success.  You'll  learn  that  soon  enough.  Now,  for 
instance,  this  morning  I  began  to  bear  the  market  on  the 
mines  of  Basse-Indre,  in  order  that  you  may  gain  control  of 
that  enterprise  before  the  favorable  report  of  the  engineers  is 
published. 

VERDELIN 

Hush,  Mercadet,  can  this  be  true?  Ah!  I  see  your  genius 
there!  (Puts  his  arm  round  him.) 

MERCADET 

I  say  this  in  order  that  you  may  understand  that  I  have  no 
need  of  advice,  nor  of  moralizing, — merely  of  money.  Alas! 
I  do  not  ask  any  thing  of  you  for  myself,  my  dear  friend,  but 
I  am  about  to  make  a  marriage  for  my  daughter,  and  here 
we  are  actually,  although  secretly,  fallen  into  absolute  destitu- 
tion. You  are  in  a  house  where  poverty  reigns  under  the 
appearance  of  luxury.  The  power  of  promises,  and  of  credit, 
all  is  exhausted!  And  if  I  cannot  pay  in  cash  for  certain 
necessary  expenses,  this  marriage  must  be  broken  off.  All  I 
want  here  is  a  fortnight  of  opulence,  just  as  all  that  you  want 
is  twenty-four  hours  of  lying  on  the  Exchange.  Verdelin,  this 
request  will  never  be  repeated,  for  I  have  only  one  daughter. 
Must  I  confess  it  to  you?  My  wife  and  daughter  are  abso- 
lutely destitute  of  clothes !  (Aside)  He  is  hesitating. 

VERDELIN"  (aside) 

He  has  played  me  so  many  tricks  that  I  really  do  rot  know 
whether  his  daughter  is  going  to  be  married  or  not.  How 
can  she  marry? 


214  MERCADET 

MERCADET 

This  very  day  I  have  to  give  a  dinner  to  my  future  son-in- 
law,  whom  a  mutual  friend  is  introducing  to  us,  and  I  haven't 
even  my  plate  remaining  in  the  house.  It  is — you  know 
where  it  is — I  not  only  need  a  thousand  crowns,  but  I  also 
hope  that  you  will  lend  me  your  dinner  service  and  come  and 
dine  here  with  your  wife. 

VERDELIN 

A  thousand  crowns ! — Mercadet !  No  one  has  a  thousand 
crowns  to  lend.  One  scarcely  has  them  for  himself ;  if  he  were 
to  lend  them  whenever  he  was  asked,  he  would  never  have 
them.  (He  retires  to  the  fire-place.) 

MERCADET  (following  him,  aside) 

He  will  yet  come  to  the  scratch.  (Aloud)  Now  look  here, 
.Verdelin,  I  love  my  wife  and  my  daughter;  these  sentiments, 
my 'friend,  are  my  sole  consolation  in  the  midst  of  my  recent 
disasters ;  these  women  have  been  so  gentle,  so  patient !  I 
should  like  to  see  them  placed  beyond  the  reach  of  distress. 
Oh !  It  is  on  this  point  that  my  sufferings  are  most  real ! 
(They  walk  to  the  front  of  the  stage  arm  in  arm.)  I  have 
recently  drunk  the  cup  of  bitterness,  I  have  slipped  upon  my 
wooden  pavement, — I  organized  a  monopoly  and  others  drained 
me  of  everything!  But,  believe  me,  this  is  nothing  in  com- 
parison with  the  pain  of  seeing  you  refuse  me  help  in  this 
extremity !  Nevertheless,  I  am  not  going  to  dwell  upon  the 
consequences — for  I  do  not  wish  to  owe  anything  to  your  pity. 

VERDELIN"  (talcing  a  seat) 

A  thousand  crowns! — But  what  purpose  would  you  apply 
them  to? 

MERCADET  (aside) 

I  shall  get  them.  (Aloud)  My  dear  fellow,  a  son-in-law  is 
a  bird  who  is  easily  frightened  away.  The  absence  of  one 


MERCADET  215 

piece  of  lace  on  a  dress  reveals  everything  to  him.  The  ladies' 
costumes  are  ordered,  the  merchants  are  on  the  point  of 
delivering  them — yes,  I  was  rash  enough  to  say  that  I  would 
pay  for  everything,  for  I  counted  on  you !  Verdelin,  a  thou- 
sand crowns  won't  kill  you,  for  you  have  sixty  thousand  francs 
a  year.  And  the  life  of  a  young  girl  of  whom  you  are  fond  is 
now  at  stake — for  you  are  fond  of  Julie!  She  has  a  sincere 
attachment  for  your  little  girl,  they  play  together  like  the 
happiest  of  creatures.  Would  you  let  the  companion  of  your 
daughter  pine  away  with  despair?  Misfortune  is  contagious! 
It  brings  evil  on  all  around ! 

VERDELIN 

My  dear  fellow,  I  have  not  got  a  thousand  crowns.  I  can 
lend  you  my  plate ;  but  I  have  not — 

MERCADET 
You  can  give  me  your  note  on  the  bank.     It  is  soon  signed — 

VERDELIN  (rising) 
I — no — 

MERCADET 

Ah  !  my  poor  daughter !  It  is  all  over.  (Falls  'back  over- 
come in  an  armchair  near  the  table.)  God  forgive  me,  if  I  put 
an  end  to  the  painful  dream  of  life,  and  let  me  awaken  in  Thy 
bosom ! 

VERDELIN  (after  a  short  silence) 
Brit —    Have  you  really  found  a  son-in-law  ? 

MERCADET  (rising  abruptly  to  his  feet) 
You  ask  if  I  have  found  a  son-in-law !— You  actually  throw 
a  doubt  upon  this !  You  may  refuse  me,  if  you  like,  the  means 
of  effecting  the  happiness  of  my  daughter,  but  do  not  insult 
me!— T  am  fallen  low  indeed!  0  Verdelin!  I  would  not 
for  a  thousand  crowns  have  had  such  an  idea  of  you,  and  you 
can  never  win  absolution  from  me  excepting  by  giving  them. 


216  MERCADET 

VERDELIN  (wishing  to  leave) 
I  must  go  and  see  if  I  can — 

MERCADET 

No !  This  is  only  another  way  of  refusing  me ! — Can  I 
believe  it?  Will  not  you  whom  I  have  seen  spend  the  same 
sum  upon  some  such  trifle  as  a  passing  love  affair — will  you 
not  apply  a  thousand  crowns  to  the  performance  of  a  good 
action  ? 

VERDELIN  (laughing) 

At  the  present  time  there  are  very  few  good  actions,  or 
transactions. 

MERCADET 

Ha  !  ha  !  ha  !  How  witty ! — You  are  laughing,  I  see  there 
is  a  reaction ! 

VERDELIN 
Ha  !  ha !  ha !     (He  drops  his  hat.) 

MERCADET  (picking  up  the  hat  and  dusting  it  with  his  sleeve) 
Come  now,  old  fellow.  Haven't  we  seen  life !  We  two  be- 
gan it  together.  What  a  lot  of  things  we  have  said  and 
done ! — Don't  you  recollect  the  good  old  time  when  we  swore 
to  be  friends  always  through  thick  and  thin  ? 

VERDELIN 

Indeed,  I  do.  And  don't  you  recollect  our  party  at  Eam- 
bouillet,  where  I  fought  with  an  officer  of  the  Guard  on  your 
account  ? 

MERCADET 

I  thought  it  was  for  the  lovely  Clarissa !  Ah !  But  we 
were  gay  ! — We  were  young ! — And  to-day  we  have  our  daugh- 
ters, daughters  old  enough  to  marry !  If  Clarissa  were  alive 
now,  she  would  blame  your  hesitation! 


MERCADET  117 

VERDELIN 
If  she  had  lived,  I  should  never  have  married. 

MERCADET 

Because  you  know  what  love  is,  that  you  do! — So  I  may 
count  upon  you  for  dinner,  and  you  give  me  your  word  of 
honor  that  you  will  send  me — 

VERDELIN 
The  plate? 

MERCADET 
And  the  thousand  crowns — 

VERDELIN 

Ah!  You  still  harp  upon  that! — I  have  told  you  that  I 
cannot  do  it. 

MERCADET  (aside) 

It  is  certain  that  this  fellow  will  never  die  of  heart  failure. 
(Aloud}  And  so  it  seems  I  am  to  be  murdered  by  my  best 
friend  ?  Alas !  It  is  always  thus !  You  are  actually  untouched 
by  the  memory  of  Clarissa — and  by  the  despair  of  a  father! 
(He  cries  out  towards  the  chamber  of  his  wife.)  Ah!  it  is 
all  over ! — I  am  in  despair !  I  am  going  to  blow  my  brains 
out! 


'SCENE    THIRTEENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  MME.  MERCADET  AND  JULIE. 

MME.  MERCADET 
What  on  earth  is  the  matter  with  you,  my  dear? 

JULIE 
How  your  voice  frightened  us,  papa ! 


218  MERCADET 

MERCADET 

They  heard  us !  See  how  they  come,  like  two  guardian 
angels!  (He  takes  them  by  the  hand.)  Ah!  you  melt  my 
heart !  (To  Verdelin)  Verdelin !  do  you  wish  to  slay  a  whole 
family?  This  proof  of  their  tenderness  gives  me  courage  to 
fall  at  your  feet. 

JULIE 

Oh,  sir!  (She  checks  her  father.)  It  is  I  who  will  im- 
plore you  for  him.  Whatever  may  be  his  demand,  do  not 
refuse  my  father;  he  must,  indeed,  be  in  the  most  terrible 
anguish ! 

MERCADET 

Dear  child !  ( Aside)  In  what  accents  does  she  speak !  I 
couldn't  speak  so  naturally  as  that. 

MME.  MERCADET 
M.  Verdelin,  listen  to  us — 

VERDELIN  (to  Julie) 
You  don't  know  what  he  is  asking^  do  you? 

JULIE 
No. 

VERDELIN 

He  is  asking  for  a  thousand  crowns,  in  order  to  arrange 
your  marriage. 

JULIE 

Then,  forget,  sir,  all  that  I  said  to  you;  I  do  not  wish  for 
a  marriage  which  has  been  purchased  by  the  humiliation  of 
my  father. 

MERCADET  (aside) 
She  is  magnificent ! 

VERDELIN 
Julie ! — I  will  go  at  once  and  get  the  money  for  you.  (Exit.) 


MERCADET  219 

SCENE  FOURTEENTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  EXCEPT  VERDELIN;  THEN  THE 
SERVANTS. 

JULIE 
Oh,  father !  Why  did  you  not  tell  me  ? 

MERCADET  (kissing  her) 

You  have  saved  us  all !  Ah !  when  shall  I  be  so  rich  and 
powerful  that  I  may  make  him  repent  of  a  favor  done  so 
grudgingly  ? 

MME.  MERCADET 
Do  not  be  unjust;  Verdelin  yielded  to  your  request. 

MERCADET 

He  yielded  to  the  cry  of  Julie,  not  to  my  request.  Ah !  my 
dear,  he  has  extorted  from  me  more  than  a  thousand  crowns' 
worth  of  humiliation ! 

JUSTIN  (coming  in  with  Therese  and  Virginie) 

The  tradespeople. 

VIRGINIE 

The  milliner  and  the  dressmaker — 

THERESE 
And  the  dry-goods  merchants. 

MERCADET 

That  is  all  right! — I  have  succeeded  in  my  scheme! — My 
daughter  shall  be  Comtesse  de  la  Brive!  (To  the  servants) 
Show  them  in ! — I  am  waiting,  and  the  money  is  ready.  (He 
goes  proudly  towards  his  study,  while  the  servants  look  at 
him  with  surprise.) 

Curtain  to  the  First  Act. 


220  MERCADET 


ACT  II. 


SCENE  FIRST. 

(Mercadet's  study,  containing  book-shelves,  a  safe,  a  desk, 
an  armchair  and  a  sofa.) 

MlNAED  AND   JUSTIN,   THEN   JULIE. 
MlNARD 

Did  you  say  that  M.  Mercadet  wished  to  speak  with  me  ? 

JUSTIN 

Yes,  sir.  But  mademoiselle  has  requested  that  you  await 
her  here. 

MINARD   (aside) 

Her  father  asks  to  see  me. — She  wishes  to  speak  to  me 
before  the  interview.  Something  extraordinary  must  have 
happened. 

JUSTIN 
Mademoiselle  is  here.     (Enter  Julie.) 

MINARD  (going  towards  her) 
Mile.  Julie  !— 

JULIE 

Justin,  inform  my  father  that  the  gentleman  has  arrived. 
(Exit  Justin.)  If  you  wish,  Adolphe,  that  our  love  should 
shine  as  bright  in  the  sight  of  all  as  it  does  in  our  hearts,  be 
as  courageous  as  I  have  already  been. 


MERCADET  221 

MlNARD 

What  has  taken  place  ? 

JULIE 

A  rich  young  suitor  has  presented  himself,  and  my  father 
is  acting  without  any  pity  for  us. 

MlNARD 

A  rival! — And  you  ask  me  if  I  have  any  courage!  Tell 
me  his  name,  Julie,  and  you  will  soon  know  whether  I  have 
any  courage. 

JULIE 

Adolphe!  You  make  me  shudder!  Is  this  the  way  in. 
which  you  are  going  to  act  with  the  hope  of  bending  my 
father  ? 

MINARD  (seeing  Mercadet  approach) 
Here  he  conies. 


SCENE  SECOND. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  MERCADET. 

MERCADET 
Sir,  are  you  in  love  with  my  daughter? 

MINARD 
Yes,  sir. 

MERCADET 

That  is,  at  least,  what  she  believes,  and  you  seem  to  hare 
had  the  talent  to  persuade  her  that  it  is  so. 

MINARD 

Your    manner    of    expressing    yourself    implies    a    doubt 
on   your    part,    which   in    any   one    else   would   have   been 


222  MEKCADET 

offensive  to  me.  Why  should  I  not  love  mademoiselle  ?  Aban- 
doned by  my  parents,  it  was  from  your  daughter,  sir,  that  I 
have  learned  for  the  first  time  the  happiness  of  affection. 
Mile.  Julie  is  at  the  same  time  a  sister  and  a  friend 
to  me.  She  is  my  whole  family.  She  alone  has  smiled  upon 
me  and  has  encouraged  me;  and  my  love  for  her  is  beyond 
what  language  can  express ! 

JULIE 
Must  I  remain  here,  father? 

MEECADET  (to  his  daughter) 

Swallow  it  all!  (To  Minard)  Sir,  with  regard  to  the  love 
Of  young  people  I  have  those  positive  ideas  which  are  con- 
sidered peculiar  to  old  men.  My  distrust  of  such  love  is  all 
the  more  permissible  because  I  am  not  a  father  blinded  by 
paternal  affection.  I  see  Julie  exactly  as  she  is ;  without  being 
absolutely  plain,  she  has  none  of  that  beauty  that  makes 
people  cry  out,  "See !"  She  is  quite  mediocre. 

MUSTARD 

You  are  mistaken,  sir;  I  venture  to  say  that  you  do  not 
know  your  daughter. 

MERCADET 
Permit  me — 

MINARD 
You  do  not  know  her,  sir. 

MERCADET 

But  I  know  her  perfectly  well — as  if — in  a  word,  I  know 
her — 

MINARD 
No,  sir,  you  do  not. 

MERCADET 
Do  you  mean  to  contradict  me  again,  sir? 


MERCADET  223 

MlNAED 

You  know  the  Julie  that  all  the  world  sees;  but  love  has 
transfigured  her !  Tenderness  and  devotion  lend  to  her  a 
transporting  beauty  that  I  alone  have  called  up  in  her. 

JULIE 
Father,  I  feel  ashamed — 

MERCADET 
You  mean  you  feel  happy.    And  if  you,  sir,  repeat  these 

things — 

MlNARD 

I  shall  repeat  them  a  hundred  times,  a  thousand  times,  and 
even  then  I  couldn't  repeat  them  often  enough.  There  is  no 
crime  in  repeating  them  before  a  father ! 

MERCADET 

You  flatter  me !  I  did  believe  myself  her  father ;  but  you 
are  the  father  of  a  Julie  whose  acquaintance  I  should  very 
much  like  to  make. 

MINARD 
You  have  never  been  in  love,  I  suppose? 

MERCADET 

I  have  been  very  much  in  love !  And  felt  the  galling  chain 
of  gold  like  everybody  else., 

MINARD 
That  was  long  ago.    In  these  days  we  love  in  a  better  way. 

MERCADET 
How  do  you  do  that? 

MINARD 
We  cling  to  the  soul,  to  the  ideal ! 


224  MERCADET 

MERCADET 

What  we  used  to  call  under  the  Empire,  having  our  eyes 
bandaged. 

MINARD 

It  is  love,  pure  and  holy,  which  can  lend  a  charm  to  all  the 
hours  of  life. 

MERCADET 
Yes,  all!— except  the  dinner  hour. 

JULIE 

Father,  do  not  ridicule  two  children  who  love  each  other 
with  a  passion  which  is  true  and  pure,  because  it  is  founded 
upon  a  knowledge  of  each  other's  character;  on  the  certitude 
of  their  mutual  ardor  in  conquering  the  difficulties  of  life ;  in 
a  word,  of  two  children  who  will  also  cherish  sincere  affection 
for  you. 

MINARD  (to  Mercadet) 
What  an  angel,  sir ! 

MERCADET  (aside) 

I'll  angel  you!  (Putting  an  arm  around  each.)  Happy 
children ! — You  are  absolutely  in  love  ?  What  a  fine  romance  I 
(To  Minard)  You  desire  her  for  your  wife? 

MINARD 
Yes,  sir. 

MERCADET 
In  spite  of  all  obstacles  ? 

MINARD 
It  is  mine  to  overcome  them ! 

JULIE 
Father,  ought  you  not  to  be  grateful  to  me  in  that  by  my 


MERCADET  225 

choice  I  am  giving  ydu  a  son  full  of  lofty  sentiments,  en- 
dowed with  a  courageous  soul,  and — 

MlNARD 

Mademoiselle — Julie. 

JULIE 
Let  me  finish ;  I  must  have  my  say. 

MERCADET 

My  daughter,  go  and  see  your  mother,  and  let  me  speak  of 
matters  which  are  a  great  deal  more  material  than  these. 

JULIE 
I  will  go,  father — 

MERCADET 

Come  back  presently  with  your  mother,  my  child.  (He 
kisses  her  and  leads  her  to  the  door.) 

MINARD  (aside) 
I  feel  my  hopes  revive. 

MERCADET  (returning) 
Sir,  I  am  a  mined  man. 

MINABD 
What  does  that  mean? 

MERCADET 

Totally  ruined.  And  if  you  wish  to  have  my  Julie,  you  are 
welcome  to  her.  She  will  be  much  better  off  at  your  house, 
poor  as  you  are,  than  in  her  paternal  home.  Not  only  is  she 
without  dowry,  but  she  is  burdened  with  poor  parents — par- 
ents who  are  more  than  poor. 

MINARD 
More  than  poor !     There  is  nothing  beyond  that. 


226 


Yes,  sir,  we  are  in  debt,  deeply  in  debt,  and  some  of  these 
debts  clamor  for  payment. 

MlNARD 

No,  no,  it  is  impossible ! 

MERCADET 

Don't  you  believe  it?  (Aside)  He  is  getting  frightened. 
(Taking  up  a  pile  of  papers  from  his  desk.  Aloud)  Here, 
my  would-be  son-in-law,  are  the  family  papers  which  will 
show  you  our  fortune — 

MIKARD 
Sir— 

MERCADET 

Or  rather  our  lack  of  fortune !  Read — Here  is  a  writ  of 
attachment  on  our  furniture. 

MINARD 
Can  it  be  possible  ? 

MEROADET 

It  is  perfectly  possible !  Here  are  judgments  by  the  score ! 
Here  is  a  writ  of  arrest.  You  see  in  what  straits  we  are! 
Here  you  see  all  my  sales,  the  protests  on  my  notes  and  the 
judgments  classed  in  order — for,  young  man,  understand  well 
in  a  disordered  condition  of  things,  order  is  above  all  things 
necessary.  When  disorder  is  well  arranged  it  can  be  relieved 
and  controlled — What  can  a  debtor  say  when  he  sees  his  debt 
entered  up  under  his  number?  I  make  the  government  my 
model.  All  payments  are  made  in  alphabetic  order.  I  have 
not  yet  touched  the  letter  A.  (He  replaces  the  papers.) 

MINARD 
You  haven't  yet  paid  anything  ? 


MERCADET  227 

MERCADET 

Scarcely  anything.  You  know  the  condition  of  my  expenses. 
You  know,  because  you  are  a  book-keeper. — See,  (picking  up 
the  papers  again)  the  total  debit  is  three  hundred  and  eighty 
thousand. 

MlNAED 

Yes,  sir.    The  balance  is  entered  there. 

MERCADET 

You  can  understand  then  how  you  must  make  me  shudder 
when  you  come  before  my  daughter  with  your  fine  protesta- 
tions !  Since  to  marry  a  poor  girl  with  nothing  but  an  income 
of  eighteen  hundred  francs,  is  like  inviting  in  wedlock  a  pro- 
tested note  with  a  writ  of  execution. 

MINARD  (lost  in  thought) 
Euined,  ruined !    And  without  resources ! 

MERCADET  (aside) 

I  thought  that  would  upset  him!  (Aloud)  Come,  now, 
young  man,  what  are  you  going  to  do  ? 

MlNARD 

First,  I  thank  you,  sir,  for  the  frankness  of  your  admis- 
sions. 

.  MERCADET 

That  is  good !  And  what  of  the  ideal,  and  your  love  for  my 
daughter  ? 

MlNARD 

You  have  opened  my  eyes,  sir. 

MERCADET  (aside) 
I  am  glad  to  hear  it. 


228  MERCADET 

MlNARD 

I  thought  that  I  already  loved  her  with  a  love  that  was 
boundless,  and  now  I  love  her  a  hundred  times  more. 

MERCADET 
The  deuce  you  do ! 

MlNARD 

Have  you  not  led  me  to  understand  that  she  will  have  need 
of  all  my  courage,  of  all  my  devotion  !  I  will  render  her  happy 
by  other  means  than  by  my  tenderness ;  she  shall  feel  grateful 
for  all  my  efforts,  she  shall  love  me  for  my  vigils,  and  for  my 
toils. 

MERCADET 
You  mean  to  tell  me  that  you  still  wish  to  marry  her  ? 

MlNARD 

Do  I  wish !  When  I  believed  that  you  were  rich,  I  would 
not  ask  her  of  you  without  trembling,  without  feeling  ashamed 
of  my  poverty;  but  now,  sir,  it  is  with  assurance  and  with 
tranquillity  of  mind  that  I  ask  for  her. 

MERCADET  (to  himself) 

I  must  admit  that  this  is  a  love  exceedingly  true,  sincere 
and  noble !  And  such  as  I  had  believed  it  impossible  to  find  in 
the  whole  world  !  (To  Minard)  Forgive  me,  young  man,  for 
the  opinion  I  had  of  you — forgive  me,  above  all.  for  the  disap- 
pointment I  am  about  to  cause  you — 

MINARD 
What  do  you  mean  ? 

MERCADET 
M.  Minard — Julie — cannot  be  your  wife- 


MERCADET  229 

MlNARD 

What  is  this,  sir  ?  Not  be  my  wife  ?  In  spite  of  our  love, 
in  spite  of  all  you  have  confided  to  me  ? 

MERCADET 

Yes,  and  just  because  of  all  I  have  confided  to  you.  I  have 
shown  you  Mercadet  the  rich  man  in  his  true  colors.  I  am 
going  to  show  you  him  as  the  skeptical  man  of  business.  I 
have  frankly  opened  my  books  to  you.  I  am  now  going  to  open 
my  heart  to  you  as  frankly. 

MlNARD 

Speak  out,  sir,  but  remember  how  great  my  devotion  to 
Mile.  Julie  is.  Eemember  that  my  self-sacrifice  and  unsel- 
fishness are  equal  to  my  love  for  her. 

MERCADET 

Let  it  be  granted  that  by  means  of  night-long  vigils  and  toils 
you  will  make  a  living  for  Julie !  But  who  will  make  a  living 
for  us,  her  father  and  mother  ? 

MlNARD 

Ah !  sir — believe  in  me ! 

MERCADET 

What !  Are  you  going  to  work  for  four,  instead  of  working 
for  only  two  ?  The  task  will  be  too  much  for  you  !  And  the 
bread  which  you  give  to  us,  you  will  have  to  snatch  out  of  the 
hands  of  your  children — 

MlNARD 

How  wildly  you  talk! 

MERCADET 

And  I,  in  spite  of  your  generous  efforts,  shall  fall,  crushed 
under  the  weight  of  disgraceful  ruin.  A  brilliant  marriage  for 


230  MERCADET 

my  daughter  is  the  only  means  by  which  I  would  be  enabled 
to  discharge  the  enormous  sums  I  owe.  It  is  only  thus  that 
in  time  I  could  regain  confidence  and  credit.  With  the  aid  of 
a  rich  son-in-law  I  can  reconquer  my  position,  and  recuperate 
my  fortune !  Why,  the  marriage  of  my  daughter  is  our  last 
anchor  of  salvation ! — This  marriage  is  our  hope,  our  wealth, 
the  prop  of  our  honor,  sir !  And  since  you  love  my  daughter, 
it  is  to  this  very  love  that  I  make  my  appeal.  My  friend,  do 
not  condemn  her  to  poverty;  do  not  condemn  her  to  a  life  of 
regret  over  the  loss  and  disgrace  which  she  has  brought  upon 
her  father  1 

MINABD  (in  great  distress) 
But  what  do  you  ask  me  to  do? 

MEECADET  (talcing  "him  by  the  hand) 

I  wish  that  this  noble  affection  which  you  have  for  her,  may 
arm  you  with  more  courage  than  I  myself  possess. 

MINABD 
I  will  show  such  courage — 

MEECADET 

Then  listen  to  me. — If  I  refuse  Julie  to  yon,  Julie  will 
refuse  the  man  I  destine  for  her.  It  will  be  best,  therefore, 
that  I  grant  your  request  for  her  hand,  and  that  you  be  the 
one — 

MINABD 

I ! — She  will  not  believe  it,  sir — 

MEECADET 

She  will  believe  you,  if  you  tell  her  that  you  fear  poverty 
for  her. 

MINAED 

She  will  accuse  me  of  being  a  fortune  hunter. 


MERCADET  231 

MEECADET 

She  will  be  indebted  to  you  for  having  secured  her  happi- 
ness. 

MINAED  (despairingly)* 
She  will  despise  me,  sir! 

MEECADET 

That  is  probable!  But  if  I  have  read  your  heart  aright, 
your  love  for  her  is  such  that  you  will  sacrifice  yourself  com- 
pletely to  the  happiness  of  her  life.  But  here  she  comes,  sir, 
and  her  mother  is  with  her.  It  is  on  their  account  that  I 
make  this  request  to  you,  sir;  can  I  count  on  you? 

MlNARD 

You — can. 

MEEOABET 
.Very  good — I  thank  you. 


SCENE  THIRD. 
THE  PRECEDING,  JULIE  AND  MME.  MEBCADET. 

LIE 

Come,  mother,  I  am  sure  that  Adolphe  has  triumphed  over 
all  obstacles. 

MME.  MERCADET 

My  dear,  M.  Minard  has  asked  of  you  the  hand  of  Julie. 
What  answer  have  you  given  him  ? 

MERCADET  (going  to  the  desk) 
It  is  for  him  to  say. 


232  MERCADET 

MINARD   (aside) 
How  can  I  tell  her  ? — My  heart  is  breaking ! 

JULIE 
What  have  you  got  to  say,  Adolphe? 

MINAED 
Mademoiselle — 

JULIE 

Mademoiselle! — Am  I  no  longer  Julie  to  you?  Oh,  tell 
me  quickly. — You  have  settled  everything  with  my  father, 
have  you  not? 

.  MINARD 

Your  father  has  shown  great  confidence  in  me. — He  has 
revealed  to  me  his  situation;  he  has  told  me — 

JULIE 
Go  on,  please  go  on — 

MERCADET 
I  have  told  him  that  we  are  ruined — 

JULIE 

And  this  avowal  has  not  changed  your  plans — your  love — 
has  it,  Adolphe  ? 

MINARD  (ardently) 

My  love! — (Mercadet,  without  being  noticed,  seizes  his 
hand.)  I  should  be  deceiving  you — mademoiselle — (speak- 
ing with  great  effort) — if  I  were  to  say  that  my  intentions 
are  unaltered. 

JULIE 

Oh !  It  is  impossible !  Can  it  be  you  who  speak  to  me  in 
this  strain? 

MME.  MERCADET 
Julie — 


MERCADET  233 

MINAED  (rousing  himself} 

There  are  some  men  to  whom  poverty  adds  energy;  men 
capable  of  daily  self -sacrifice,  of  hourly  toil;  men  who  think 
themselves  sufficiently  recompensed  by  a  smile  from  a  com- 
panion that  they  love — (checking  himself).  I,  mademoiselle, 
am  not  one  of  these. — The  thought  of  poverty  dismays  me. — 
I — I  could  not  endure  the  sight  of  your  unhappiness. 

JULIE  (bursting  into  tears  and  flinging  herself  into  the  arms 
of  her  mother) 
Oh!  mother!  mother!  mother! 

MME.  MERCADET 
My  daughter — my  poor  Julie! 

MINARD   (in  a  low  voice  to  Mercadet) 
Is  this  sufficient,  sir? 

JULIE  (without  looking  at  Minard) 

I  should  have  had  courage  for  both  of  us. — I  should  always 
have  greeted  you  with  a  smile,  I  should  have  toiled  without 
regret,  and  happiness  would  always  have  reigned  in  our 
home. — You  could  never  have  meant  this,  Adolphe. — You 
do  not  mean  it! — 

MINARD  (in  a  low  voice) 
Let  me  go — let  me  leave  the  house,  sir! 

MERCADET 
Come,  then.     (He  retires  to  the  lack  of  the  stage.) 

MINARD 

Good-bye— Julie.— A  love  that  would  have  flung  you  into 
poverty  is  a  thoughtless  love.  I  have  preferred  to  show  the 
love  that  sacrifices  itself  to  your  happiness— 


234  MERCADET 

JULIE 

No, — I  trust  you  no  longer.  (In  a  low  voice  to  her  mother) 
My  only  happiness  would  have  been  to  be  his. 

JUSTIN   (announcing  visitors) 
M.  de  la  Brive!    M.  de  Mericourt! 

MERCADET 

Take  your  daughter  away,  madame.  M.  Minard,  follow 
me.  (To  Justin)  Ask  them  to  wait  here  for  awhile.  (To 
Minard)  I  am  well  satisfied  with  you.  (Mme.  Mercadet  and 
Julie,  Mercadet  and  Minard  go  out  in  opposite  directions, 
while  Justin  admits  Mericourt  and  De  la  Brive.) 


SCENE  FOURTH. 
DE  LA  BRIVE  AND  MERICOURT. 

JUSTIN 

M.  Mercadet  begs  that  the  gentlemen  will  wait  for  him 
here.  (Exit.) 

MERICOURT 

At  last,  my  dear  friend,  you  are  on  the  ground,  and  you 
will  be  very  soon  officially  recognized  as  Mile.  Mercadet's 
intended !  Steer  your  bark  well,  for  the  father  is  a  deep  one. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
That  is  what  frightens  me,  for  difficulties  loom  ahead. 

MERICOURT 

I  do  not  believe  so;  Mercadet  is  a  speculator,  rich  to-day, 
to-morrow  possibly  a  beggar.  With  the  little  I  know  of  his 


MERCADET  235 

affairs  from  his  wife,  I  am  led  to  believe  that  he  is  enchanted 
with  the  prospect  of  depositing  a  part  of  his  fortune  in  the 
name  of  his  daughter,  and  of  obtaining  a  son-in-law  capable 
of  assisting  him  in  carrying  out  his  financial  schemes. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

That  is  a  good  idea,  and  suits  me  exactly;  but  suppose  he 
wishes  to  find  out  too  much  about  me? 

MERICOUET 
I  have  given  M.  Mercadet  an  excellent  account  of  you. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
I  have  fallen  upon  my  feet  truly. 

MERICOURT 

But  you  are  not  going  to  lose  the  dandy's  self-possession? 
I  quite  understand  that  your  position  is  risky.  A  man  would 
jiot  marry,  excepting  from  utter  despair.  Marriage  is  suicide 
for  the  man  of  the  world.  (In  a  low  voice)  Come,  tell  me — 
can  you  hold  out  much  longer? 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

If  I  had  not  two  names,  one  for  the  bailiffs  and  one  for  the 
fashionable  world,  I  should  be  banished  from  the  Boulevard. 
Woman  and  I,  as  you  know,  have  wrought  each  the  ruin  of 
the  other,  and,  as  fashion  now  goes,  to  find  a  rich  English- 
woman, an  amiable  dowager,  an  amorous  gold  mine,  would 
be  as  impossible  as  to  find  an  extinct  animal. 

MERICOURT 
What  of  the  gaming  table? 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Oh !    Gambling  is  an  unreliable  resource  excepting  for  cer- 


236  MERCADET 

tain  crooks,  and  I  am  not  such  a  fool  as  to  ran  the  risk  of 
disgrace  for  the  sake  of  winnings  which  always  have  their 
limit.  Publicity,  my  dear  friend,  has  been  the  abolition  of 
all  those  shady  careers  in  which  fortune  once  was  to  be  found. 
So,  that  for  a  hundred  thousand  francs  of  accepted  bills, 
the  "usurer  gives  me  but  ten  thousand.  Pierquin  sent  me  to 
one  of  his  agents,  a  sort  of  sub-Pierquin,  a  little  old  man 
called  Violette,  who  said  to  my  broker  that  he  could  not  give 
me  money  on  such  paper  at  any  rate !  Meanwhile  my  tailor 
has  refused  to  bank  upon  my  prospects.  My  horse  is  living 
on  credit;  as  to  my  tiger,  the  little  wretch  who  wears  such 
fine  clothes,  I  do  not  know  how  he  lives,  or  where  he  feeds. 
I  dare  not  peer  into  the  mystery.  Now,  as  we  are  not  so 
advanced  in  civilization  as  the  Jews,  who  canceled  all  debts 
evenr  half-century,  a  man  must  pay  by  the  sacrifice  of  per- 
sonal liberty.  Horrible  things  will  be  said  about  me.  Here 
is  a  young  man  of  high  esteem  in  the  world  of  fashion,  pretty 
lucky  at  cards,  of  a  passable  figure,  less  than  twenty-eigKt 
years  old,  and  he  is  going  to  marry  the  daughter  of  a  rich 
speculator ! 

MEEICODRT 
What  difference  does  it  make? 

DE  LA  BEIVE 

It  is  slightly  off  color !  But  I  am  tired  of  a  sham  life.  I 
have  learned  at  last  that  the  only  way  to  amass  wealth  is  to 
work.  But  our  misfortune  is  that  we  find  ourselves  quick  at 
everything,  but  not  good  at  anything !  A  man  like  me,  capa- 
ble of  inspiring  a  passion  and  of  maintaining  it,  cannot  be- 
come either  a  clerk  or  a  soldier!  Society  has  provided  no 
employment  for  us.  Accordingly,  I  am  going  to  set  up  busi- 
ness with  Mercadet.  He  is  one  of  the  greatest  of  schemers. 
You  are  sure  that  he  won't  give  less  than  a  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  francs  to  his  daughter? 

MERICOURT 
Judge  yourself,  my  dear  friend,  from  the  style  which  Mme. 


MERCADET  237 

Mercadet  puts  on;  you  see  her  at  all  the  first  nights,  in  her 
own  box,  at  the  opera,  and  her  conspicuous  elegance — 

DE  LA  BBIVE 

I  myself  am  elegant  enough,  but — 

MERICOURT 

Look  round  you  here — everything  indicates  opulence — Oh! 
they  are  well  off! 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

Yet,  it  is  a  sort  of  middle-class  splendor,  something  sub- 
stantial which  promises  well. 

MERICOURT 

And  then  the  mother  is  a  woman  of  principle,  of  irreproach- 
able behavior.  Can  you  possibly  conclude  matters  to-day? 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

I  have  taken  steps  to  do  so.  I  won  at  the  club  yesterday 
sufficient  to  go  on  with;  I  shall  pay  something  on  the  wed- 
ding presents,  and  let  the  balance  stand. 

MERICOURT 

Without  reckoning  my  account,  what  is  the  amount  of  your 
debts? 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

A  mere  trifle !  A  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  francs,  which 
my  father-in-law  will  cut  down  to  fifty  thousand.  I  shall 
have  a  hundred  thousand  francs  left  to  begin  life  on.  I  always 
said  that  I  should  never  become  rich  until  I  hadn't  a  sou  left. 

MERICOURT 

Mercadet  is  an  astute  man ;  he  will  question  you  about  your 
fortune;  are  you  prepared? 


288  MERCADET 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

Am  I  not  the  landed  proprietor  of  La  Brive? — Three 
thousand  acres  in  the  Landes,  which  are  worth  thirty  thousand 
francs,  mortgaged  for  forty-five  thousand  and  capable  of  being 
floated  by  a  stock  jobbing  company  for  some  commercial  pur- 
pose or  other,  say,  as  representing  a  capital  of  a  hundred  thou- 
sand crowns!  You  cannot  imagine  how  much  this  property 
has  brought  me  in. 

MERICOURT 

Your  name,  your  horse,  and  your  lands  seem  to  me  to  be  on 
their  last  legs. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Not  so  loud ! 

'  MERICOURT 

So  you  have  quite  made  up  your  mind  ? 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

Yes,  and  all  the  more  decidedly  in  that  I  am  going  into 
politics. 

MERICOURT 
Really — but  you  are  too  clever  for  that ! 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
As  a  preparation  I  shall  take  to  journalism. 

MERICOURT 
And  you  have  never  written  two  lines  in  your  life ! 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

There  are  journalists  who  write  and  journalists  who  do  not 
write.  The  former  are  editors — the  horses  that  drag  the  cart ; 
the  latter,  the  proprietors,  who  furnish  the  funds ;  these  give 
oats  to  their  horses  and  keep  the  capital  for  themselves.  I 
shall  be  a  proprietor.  You  merely  have  to  put  on  a  lofty  air 


MERCADET  239 

end  exclaim :  "The  Eastern  question  is  a  question  of  great 
importance  and  of  wide  influence,  one  about  which  there  can- 
not be  two  opinions  I"  You  sum  up  a  discussion  by  declaim- 
ing :  "England,  sir,  will  always  get  the  better  of  us  I"  or  you 
make  an  answer  to  some  one  whom  you  have  heard  speak  for 
a  long  time  without  paying  attention  to  him :  "We  are  advanc- 
ing towards  an  abyss,  we  have  not  yet  passed  through  all  the 
evolutions  of  the  evolutionary  phase!"  You  say  to  a  repre- 
sentative of  labor:  "Sir,  I  think  there  is  something  to  be 
done  in  this  matter."  A  proprietor  of  a  journal  speaks  very 
little,  rushes  about  and  makes  himself  useful  by  doing  for  a 
man  in  power  what  the  latter  cannot  do  himself.  He  is  sup- 
posed to  inspire  the  articles,  those  I  mean,  which  attract  any 
notice !  And  then,  if  it  is  absolutely  necessary,  he  undertakes 
to  publish  a  yellow-backed  volume  on  some  Utopian  topic,  so 
well  written,  so  strong,  that  no  one  opens  it,  although  every 
one  declares  that  he  has  read  it !  Then  he  is  looked  upon  as  an 
earnest  man,  and  ends  by  finding  himself  acknowledged  as 
somebody,  instead  of  something. 

MEEICOURT 
Alas !    What  you  say  is  too  true,  in  these  times  I 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

And  we  ourselves  are  a  startling  proof  of  this !  In  order  to 
claim  a  part  in  political  power  you  must  not  show  what  good, 
but  what  harm  you  can  do.  You  must  not  alone  possess 
talents,  you  must  be  able  also  to  inspire  fear.  Accordingly, 
the  very  day  after  my  marriage,  I  shall  assume  an  air  of 
seriousness,  of  profundity,  of  high  principles!  I  can  take 
my  choice,  for  we  have  in  France  a  list  of  principles  which  is 
as  varied  as  a  bill  of  fare.  I  elect  to  be  a  socialist !  The 
word  pleases  me!  At  every  epoch,  my  dear  friend,  there 
are  adjectives  which  form  the  pass-words  of  ambition ! 
fore  1789  a  man  called  himself  an  economist;  in  1815  he  was 
a  liberal;  the  next  party  will  call  itself  the  social  party— per- 


240  MERCADET 

haps  because  it  is  so  unsocial.    For  in  France  you  must  always 
take  the  opposite  sense  of  a  word  to  understand  its  meaning. 

MERICOURT 

Let  me  tell  you  privately,  that  you  are  now  talking  nothing 
hut  the  nonsense  of  masked  ball  chatter,  which  passes  for 
wit  among  those  who  do  not  indulge  in  it.  What  are  you 
going  to  do  when  a  certain  definite  knowledge  becomes  neces- 
sary? 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

My  dear  friend!  In  every  profession,  whether  of  art, 
science  or  literature,  a  man  needs  intellectual  capital,  special 
knowledge  and  capacity.  But  in  politics,  my  dear  fellow,  a 
man  wins  everything  and  attains  to  everything  by  means  of  a 
single  phrase — 

MERICOURT 
What  is  that? 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

'The  principles  of  my  friends;  the  party  for  which  I  stand, 
look  for—" 

MERICOURT 
Hush!    Here  comes  the  father-in-law! 


SCENE  FIFTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  MERCADET. 

MERCADET 

Good-day,  my  dear  Mericourt!  (To  De  la  Brive)  The 
ladies  have  kept  you  waiting,  sir.  Ah !  They  are  putting  on 
their  finery.  For  myself,  T  was  just  on  the  point  of  dismiss- 
ing— whom  do  you  think? — an  aspirant,  to  the  hand  of  Mile. 
Julie.  Poor  young  man ! — I  was  perhaps  hard  on  him,  and 


MERCADET  241 

yet  I  felt  for  him.    He  worships  my  daughter;  but  what  could 
I  do  ?    He  has  only  ten  thousand  francs'  income 

DE  LA  BBIVB 
That  wouldn't  go  very  far ! 

MERCADET 
A  mere  subsistence! 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

You're  not  the  man  to  give  a  rich  and  clever  girl  to  the  first 
comer — 

MERICOURT 
Certainly  not. 

MERCADET 

Before  the  ladies  come  in,  gentlemen,  we  must  talk  a  little 
serious  business. 

DE  LA  BRIVE  (to  Mericourt) 
Now  comes  the  tug  of  war !     (They  all  sit  down.) 

MERCADET  (on  the  sofa) 
Are  yon  seriously  in  love  with  my  daughter? 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
I  love  her  passionately! 

MERCADET 
Passionately? — 

MERICOURT  (to  his  friend) 
You  are  over-doing  it 

DE  LA  BRIVE  (to  Mericourt) 
Wait  a  moment.     (Aloud)   Sir,  I  am  ambitious — and  I 


242  MERCADET 

saw  in  Mile.  Julie  a  lady  at  once  distinguished,  full  of  intel- 
lect, possessed  of  charming  manners,  who  would  never  be  out 
of  place  in  the  position  in  which  my  fortune  puts  me;  and 
such  a  wife  is  essential  to  the  success  of  a  politician. 

MERCADET 

I  understand !  It  is  easy  to  find  a  woman,  but  it  is  very  rare 
that  a  man  who  wishes  to  be  a  minister  or  ambassador  finds  a 
wife.  You  are  a  man  of  wit,  sir.  May  I  ask  your  political 
leaning  ? 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Sir,  I  am  a  socialist. 

MERCADET 

That  is  a  new  move !  But  now  let  us  talk  of  money  mat- 
ters. 

MERICOURT 
It  eeems  to  me  that  the  notary  might  attend  to  that. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

No !  M.  Mercadet  is  right ;  it  is  best  that  we  should  attend 
to  these  things  ourselves. 

MERCADET 
True,  sir. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

Sir,  my  whole  fortune  consists  in  the  estate  which  bears 
my  name;  it  has  been  in  my  family  for  a  hundred  and  fifty 
years,  and  I  hope  will  never  pass  from  us. 

MERCADET 

The  possession  of  capital  is  perhaps  more  valuable  in  these 
days.  Capital  is  in  your  own  hand.  If  a  revolution  breaks 
out,  and  we  have  had  many  revolutions  lately,  capital  follows 
us  everywhere.  Landed  property,  on  the  contrary,  must  fur- 


MERCADET  243 

nish  funds  for  every  one.  There  it  stands  stock  still  like  a 
fool  to  pay  the  taxes,  while  capital  dodges  out  of  the  way. 
But  this  is  no  real  obstacle.  What  is  the  amount  of  your  land  ? 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Three  thousand  acres,  without  a  break. 

MERCADET 
Without  a  break? 

MERICOUKT 
Did  not  I  tell  you  as  much? 

MERCADET 
I  never  doubted  it. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
A  chateau — 

MERCADET 
Good— 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

And  salt  marshes,  which  can  be  worked  as  soon  as  the 
administration  gives  permission.  They  would  yield  enormous 
returns ! 

MERCADET 

Ah,  sir,  why  have  we  been  so  late  in  becoming  acquainted ! 
Your  land,  then,  must  be  on  the  seashore. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Within  half  a  league  of  it. 

MERCADET 
And  it  is  situated? 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Near  Bordeaux. 


244  MERCADET 

MERCADET 
You  have  vineyards,  then? 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

No !  fortunately  not,  for  the  disposal  of  wines  is  a  trouble- 
some matter,  and,  moreover,  the  cultivation  of  the  vine  is 
exceedingly  expensive.  My  estate  was  planted  with  pine  trees 
hy  my  grandfather,  a  man  of  genius,  who  was  wise  enough 
to  sacrifice  himself  to  the  welfare  of  his  descendants.  Be- 
sides, I  have  furniture,  which  you  know — 

MERCADET 

Sir,  one  moment,  a  man  of  business  is  always  careful  to  dot 
his  i's. 

DE  LA  BRIVE   (under  his  voice) 
Now  we're  in  for  it! 

MERCADET 

With  regard  to  your  estate  and  your  marshes, — I  see  all 
that  can  be  got  out  of  these  marshes.  The  best  way  of  util- 
izing them  would  be  to  form  a  company  for  the  exploitation 
of  the  marshes  of  the  Brive !  There  is  more  than  a  million 
in  it! 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

I  quite  understand  that,  sir.  They  need  only  to  be  thrown 
upon  the  market. 

MERCADET  (aside) 

These  words  indicate  a  certain  intelligence  in  this  young 
man.  (Aloud)  Have  you  any  debts?  Is  your  estate  mort- 
gaged? 

MERICOURT 
You  would  not  think  much  of  my  friend  if  he  had  no  debts. 


MERCADET  245 

DE  LA  BEIVE 

I  will  be  frank,  sir,  there  is  a  mortgage  of  forty-five  thou- 
sand francs  on  my  estate. 

MERCADET  (aside) 

An  innocent  young  man !  he  might  easily—  (Rising  from 
his  seat.  Aloud)  You  have  my  consent ;  you  shall  be  my  son- 
in-law,  and  are  the  very  man  I  would  choose  for  my  daugh- 
ter's husband.  You  do  not  realize  what  a  fortune  you  pos- 
sess. 

DE  LA  BEIVE  (to  Mericourt) 
This  is  almost  too  good  to  be  true. 

MEBICOURT  (to  De  la  Brive) 
He  is  dazzled  by  the  good  speculation  which  he  sees  ahead. 

MERCADET  (aside) 

With  government  protection,  which  can  be  purchased,  salt 
pits  may  be  established.  I  am  saved !  (Aloud)  Allow  me  to 
shake  hands  with  you,  after  the  English  fashion.  You  fulfill 
all  that  I  expected  in  a  son-in-law.  I  plainly  see  you  have 
none  of  the  narrowness  of  provincial  land-holders;  we  shall 
understand  each  other  thoroughly. 

DE  LA  BRIVB 
You  must  not  take  it  in  bad  part,  sir,  if  I,  on  my  part, 

ask  you — 

MERCADET 

The  amount  of  my  daughter's  fortune  ?  I  should  have  dis- 
trusted you  if  you  hadn't  asked!  My  daughter  has  inde- 
pendent means;  her  mother  settles  on  her  her  own  fortune, 
consisting  of  a  small  property — a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres, 
but  in  the  very  heart  of  Brie,  and  provided  with  good  build- 
ings. Besides  this,  I  shall  give  her  two  hundred  thousand 
francs,  the  interest  of  which  will  be  for  your  use,  until  you 


246  MERCADET 

find  a  suitable  investment  for  it.  So  you  see,  young  man,  we 
do  not  wish  to  deceive  you,  we  wish  to  keep  the  money  mov- 
ing ;  I  like  you,  you  please  me,  for  I  see  you  have  ambition. 

DE  LA  BEIVE 
Yes,  sir. 

MEBCADET 
You  love  luxury,  extravagance ;  you  wish  to  shine  at  Paris — 

DE  LA  BKIVE 
Yes,  sir. 

MEECADET 

You  see  that  I  am  already  an  old  man,  obliged  to  lay  th'e 
load  of  my  ambition  upon  some  congenial  co-operator,  and 
you  shall  be  the  one  to  play  the  brilliant  part. 

DE  LA  BEIVE 

Sir,  had  I  been  obliged  to  take  my  choice  of  all  the  fathers- 
in-law  in  Paris,  I  should  have  given  the  preference  to  you. 
You  are  a  man  after  my  own  heart!  Allow  me  to  shake 
hands,  after  the  English  fashion !  (They  shake  hands  for  the 
second  time.) 

MEECADET  (aside) 
It  seems  too  good  to  be  true. 

DE  LA  BEIVE  (aside) 
He  fell  head-first  into  my  salt  marshes ! 

MEECADET   (aside) 

He  accepts  an  income  from  me!  (He  retires  towards  the 
door  on  the  left  side.) 

MERICOUBT  (to  De  la  Brive) 
Are  you  satisfied? 


MERCADET  847 

DE  LA  BRIVE  (to  Mericourt) 
I  don't  see  the  money  for  my  debts. 

MERICOTTRT  (to  De  la  Brive) 

Wait  a  moment.  (To  Mercadet)  My  friend  does  not  dare 
to  tell  you  of  it,  but  he  is  too  honest  for  concealment.  He 
has  a  few  debts. 

MERCADET 

Oh,  please  tell  me.  I  understand  perfectly — I  suppose  it 
is  about  fifty  thousand  you  owe? 

MERICOURT 
Very  nearly — 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Very  nearly — 

MERCADET 
'A  mere  trifle. 

DE  LA  BRIVE  (laughing)' 
Yes,  a  mere  trifle! 

MERCADET 

They  will  serve  as  a  subject  of  discussion  between  your  wife 
and  you ;  yes,  let  her  have  the  pleasure  of —  But,  we  will  pay 
them  all.  (Aside)  In  shares  of  the  La  Brive  salt  pits. 
(Aloud)  It  is  so  small  an  amount.  (Aside)  We  will  put  up 
the  capital  of  the  salt  marsh  a  hundred  thousand  francs 
more.  (Aloud)  That  matter  is  settled,  son-in-law. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
We  will  consider  it  settled,  father-in-law. 

MERCADET  (aside) 
I  am  saved ! 

DE  LA  BRIVE  (aside) 
I  am  saved! 


248  MERCADET 

SCENE  SIXTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  MME.  MERCADET  AND  JULIE. 

MERCADET 
Here  are  my  wife  and  daughter. 

MERICOURT 

Madame,  allow  me  to  present  to  you  my  friend,  M  de  la 
Brive,  who  regards  your  daughter  with — 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
With  passionate  admiration. 

MERCADET 
My  daughter  is  exactly  the  woman  to  suit  a  politician. 

DE  LA  BRIVE  (to  Mericourt.     Gazing  at  Julie  through  his 

eyeglass) 

A  fine  girl.  (To  Madame  Mercadet)  Like  mother,  like 
daughter.  Madame,  I  place  my  hopes  under  your  protection. 

MME.  MERCADET 
Anyone  introduced  by  M.  Mericourt  would  be  welcome  here. 

JULIE  (to  her  father) 
What  a  coxcomb! 

MERCADET   (to  his  daughter) 

He  is  enormously  rich. — We  shall  all  be  millionaires! — He 
is  an  excessively  clever  fellow.  Now,  do  try  and  be  amiable, 
as  you  ought  to  be. 

JULIE    (answering   him) 
What  would  you  wish  me  to  say  to  a  dandy  whom  I  have 


MERCADET  249 

just  seen  for  the  first  time,  and  whom  you  destine  for  my 
husband  ? — 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

May  I  be  permitted  to  hope,  mademoiselle,  that  you  will 
look  favorably  upon  me? 

JULIE 
My  duty  is  to  obey  my  father. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

Young  people  are  not  always  aware  of  the  feelings  which 
they  inspire.  For  two  months  I  have  been  longing  for  the 
happiness  of  paying  my  respects  to  you. 

JULIE 

Who  can  be  more  flattered  than  I  am,  sir,  to  find  that  I 
have  attracted  your  attention? 

MME.  MERCADET  (to  Mericourt) 

He  is  a  fine  fellow.  (Aloud)  We  hope  that  you  and  your 
friend  M.  de  la  Brive  will  do  us  the  pleasure  of  accepting  our 
invitation  to  dine  without  ceremony. 

MERCADET 

To  take  pot-luck  with  us.  (To  De  la  Brive)  You  must 
excuse  our  simplicity. 

JUSTIN  (entering,  in  a  low  voice  to  Mercadet) 
M.  Pierquin  wishes  to  speak  to  you,  monsieur. 

MERCADET  (low) 
Pierquin  ? 

JUSTIN 
He  says  it  is  concerning  an  important  and  urgent  matter. 


250  MERCADET 

MEKCADET 

What  can  he  want  with  me?  Let  him  come  in.  (Justin 
goes  out.  Aloud)  My  dear,  these  gentlemen  must  be  tired. 
Won't  you  take  them  into  the  drawing-room  ?  M.  de  la  Brive, 
give  my  daughter  your  arm. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Mademoiselle — (offers  Tier  his  arm.) 

JULIE  (aside) 
He  is  handsome,  he  is  rich — why  does  he  choose  me? 

MME.  MERCADET 

M.  de  Mericourt,  will  you  come  and  see  the  picture  which 
we  are  going  to  raffle  off  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  orphans  ? 

MERICOURT 
With  pleasure,  madame. 

MERCADET 
Go  on.    I  shall  be  with  you  in  a  moment. 


SCENE  SEVENTH. 
MERCADET  AND  PIERQUIN. 

MERCADET   (alone) 

Well,  after  all,  this  time  I  have  really  secured  fortune  and 
the  happiness  of  Julie  and  the  rest  of  us.  For  a  son-in-law 
like  this  is  a  veritable  gold  mine !  Three  thousand  acres ! 
A  chateau!  Salt  marshes!  (He  sits  down  at  his  desk.) 

PIERQUIN   (entering) 
Good-day,  Mercadet.     I  have  come — 


MERCADET  251 

MERCADET 
Bather  inopportunely.  But  what  do  you  wish? 

PIERQUIN 

I  sha'n't  detain  you  long.  The  bills  of  exchange  I  gave  you 
this  morning,  signed  by  a  man  called  Michonnin,  are  abso- 
lutely valueless.  I  told  you  this  beforehand. 

MERCADET 
I  know  that. 

PIERQUIN 
I  now  offer  you  a  thousand  crowns  for  them. 

MERCADET 

That  is  either  too  much  or  too  little !  Anything  for  which 
you  will  give  that  sum  must  be  worth  infinitely  more.  Some 
one  is  waiting  for  me  in  the  other  room.  I  will  bid  you  good- 
evening. 

PlERQUIN 

I  will  give  you  four  thousand  francs. 

MERCADET 
No! 

PlERQUIN 

Five — six  thousand. 

MERCADET. 

If  you  wish  to  play  cards,  keep  to  the  gambling  table.  Why 
do  you  wish  to  recover  this  paper  ? 

PlERQUIN 

Michonnin  has  insulted  me.  I  wish  to  take  vengeance  on 
him;  to  send  him  to  jail. 

MERCADET  (rising) 

Six  thousand  francs  worth  of  vengeance!  You  are  not  a 
man  to  indulge  in  luxuries  of  that  kind. 


262  MERCADET 

PlEBQUIN 

I  assure  you— 

MERCADET. 

Come  now,  my  friend,  consider  that  for  a  satisfactory 
defamation  of  character  the  code  won't  charge  you  more  than 
five  or  six  hundred  francs,  and  the  tax  on  a  blow  is  only  fifty 
francs — 

PlERQUIN 

I  swear  to  you — 

MERCADET. 

Has  this  Michonnin  come  into  a  legacy?  And  are  the 
forty-seven  thousand  francs  of  these  vouchers  actually  worth 
forty-seven  thousand  francs?  You  should  post  me  on  this 
subject  and  then  we'll  cry  halves! 

PlERQUIN 

Very*  well,  I  agree.  The  fact  of  it  is,  Michonnin  is  to  be 
married. 

MERCADET 
What  next !     And  with  whom,  pray? 

PlERQUIN 

With  the  daughter  of  some  nabob— an  idiot  who  is  giving 
her  an  enormous  dowry! 

MERCADET 
Where  does  Michonnin  live? 

PlERQUIN 

Do  you  want  to  issue  a  writ?  He  is  without  a  fixed  abode 
in  Paris.  His  furniture  is  held  under  the  name  of  a  friend; 
but  his  legal  domicile  must  be  in  the  neighborhood  of  Bor- 
deaux, in  the  village  of  Ermont. 


MERCADET  263 

MERCADET 

Stay  a  while.  I  have  some  one  here  from  that  region.  I 
can  get  exact  information  in  a  moment — and  then  we  can 
begin  proceedings. 

PlERQUIN 

Send  me  the  paper,  and  leave  the  business  to  me — 

MERCADET 

I  shall  be  very  glad  to  do  so.  They  shall  be  put  into  your 
hands  in  return  for  a  signed  agreement  as  to  the  sharing  of 
the  money.  I  am  at  present  altogether  taken  up  with  the 
marriage  of  my  daughter. 

PIERQUIN 
I  hope  everything  is  going  on  well. 

MERCADET 

Wonderfully  well.  My  son-in-law  is  a  gentleman  and,  in 
spite  of  that,  he  is  rich.  And,  although  both  rich  and  a  gen- 
tleman, he  is  clever  into  the  bargain. 

PlERQUIN 

,   I  congratulate  you. 

MERCADET. 

One  word  with  you  before  you  go.  You  said,  Michonnin, 
of  Ermont,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Bordeaux  ? — 

PIERQUIN 

Yes,  he  has  an  old  aunt  somewhere  about  there !  A  good 
woman  called  Bourdillac,  who  scrapes  along  on  some  six 
hundred  francs  a  year,  but  to  whom  he  gives  the  title  of 
Marchioness  of  Bourdillac.  He  pretends  that  her  health  is 
delicate  and  that  she  has  a  yearly  income  of  forty  thousand 
francs. 


254  MERCADET 

MERCADET. 
Thank  you.     Good-evening — 

PlERQUIN 

Good-evening  (goes  out). 

MERCADET  (ringing) 
Justin ! 

JUSTIN 
Did  you  call,  sir? 

MERCADET. 

Ask  M.  de  la  Brive  to  speak  with  me  for  a  moment.    (Justin 
goes  out.) 

MERCADET. 

Here  is  a  windfall  of  twenty-three  thousand  francs!     We 
shall  he  able  to  arrange  things  famously  for  Julie's  marriage. 


SCENE  EIGHTH. 
MERCADET,  DE  LA  BRIVE  AND  JUSTIN. 

DE  LA  BRIVE  (to  Justin,  handing  him  a  letter) 
Here,  deliver  this  letter. — And  this  is  for  yourself. 

JUSTIN   (aside) 

A  louis !    Mademoiselle  will  be  sure  to  have  a  happy  home. 
(Exit.) 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
You  wish  to  speak  with  me,  my  dear  father-in-law? 

MERCADET 

Yes.    You  see  I  already  treat  you  without  ceremony.    Please 
to  take  a  seat. 


MERCADET  255 

DE  LA  BRIVE  (sitting  on  a  sofa) 
I  am  grateful  for  your  confidence. 

MERCADET 

I  am  seeking  information  with  regard  to  a  debtor,  who, 
like  you,  lives  in  the  neighborhood  or  Bordeaux. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
I  know  every  one  in  that  district. 

MERCADET 

I  am  seeking  information  with  regard  to  a  debtor,  who, 
like  you,  lives  in  the  neighborhood  of  Bordeaux. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Eelations!    I  have  none  but  an  old  aunt. 

MERCADET   (pricking  up  his  ears) 
An — old  aunt — ? 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Whose  health — 

MERCADET   (trembling) 
Is — is — delicate  ? 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
And  her  income  is  forty  thousand  francs— 

MERCADET  (quite  overcome) 
Good  Lord!  the  very  figure! 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

The  Marchioness,  you  see,  will  be  a  good  woman  to  have 
on  hand.     I  mean  the  Marchioness — 

MERCADET   (vehemently  rushing  at  him) 
Of  Bourdillac,  sir; 


256  MERCADET 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

How  is  this  ?    Do  you  know  her  name  ? 

MERCADET 
Yes,  and  yours  too! 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
The  devil  you  do ! 

MERCADET 

You  are  head  over  ears  in  debt;  your  furniture  is  held 
in  another  man's  name;  your  old  aunt  has  a  pittance  of  six 
hundred  francs;  Pierquin,  who  is  one  of  your  smallest  cred- 
itors, has  forty-seven  thousand  francs  in  notes  of  hand  from 
you.  You  are  Michonnin,  and  I  am  the  idiotic  nabob ! 

DE  LA  BRIVE  (stretching  himself  at  full  length  on  the  sofa) 
By  heavens !    You  know  just  as  much  about  it  as  I  do ! 

MERCADET 

Well — I  see  that  once  more  the  devil  has  taken  a  hand  in 
my  game. 

DE  LA  BRIVE   (aside,  rising  to  his  feet) 
The  marriage  is  over !    I  am  no  longer  a  socialist ;  I  shall 
become  a  communist. 

MERCADET 

And  I  have  been  just  as  easily  deceived,  as  if  I  had  been  on 
the  Exchange. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Show  yourself  worthy  of  your  reputation. 

MERCADET 
M.  Michonnin,  your  conduct  is  more  than  blameworthy ! 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
In  what  particular  ?    Did  I  not  say  that  I  had  debts  ? 


MERCADET  257 

MERCADET 

We'll  let  that  pass,  for  any  one  may  have  debts;  but  where 
is  your  estate  situated? 

DE  LA  BEIVE 
In  the  Landes. 

MERCADET 
And  of  what  does  it  consist? 

DE  LA  BRIVB 
Of  sand  wastes,  planted  with  firs. 

MERCADET 
Good  to  make  toothpicks. 

DE  LA  BRIVB 
That's  about  it. 

MERCADET 
And  it  is  worth. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Thirty  thousand  francs. 

MERCADET 
And  mortgaged  for — 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

Forty-five  thousand! 

MERCADET 
And  you  had  the  skill  to  effect  that? 

DE  LA  BRIVB 

Why,  yes — 

MERCADET 

Damnation !      But   that  was   pretty   clever !      And   your 
marshes,  sir? 


258  MERCADET 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
They  border  on  the  sea — 

MERCADET 
They  are  part  of  the  ocean ! — 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

The  people  of  that  country  are  evil-minded  enough  to  say 
so.  That  is  what  hinders  my  loans ! 

MERCADET 

It  would  be  very  difficult  to  issue  ocean  shares! — Sir — I 
may  tell  you,  between  ourselves,  that  your  morality  seems 
to  me — 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Somewhat — 

MERCADET 
Eisky. 

DE  LA  BRIVE   (in  anger) 

Sir! — (calming  himself).  Let  this  be  merely  between 
ourselves ! 

MERCADET 

You  give  a  friend  a  bill  of  sale  of  your  furniture,  you  sign 
your  notes  of  hand  with  the  name  of  Michonnin,  and  you  call 
yourself  merely  De  la  Brive — 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Well,  sir,  what  are  you  going  to  do  about  it  ? 

MERCADET 
Do  about  it  ?    I  am  going  to  lead  you  a  pretty  dance — • 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

Sir,  I  am  your  guest !  Moreover,  I  may  deny  everything— 
What  proofs  have  you? 


MERCADET  259 

MERCADET 

What  proofs !  I  have  in  my  hands  forty-seven  thousand 
francs'  worth  of  your  notes. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Are  they  signed  to  the  order  of  Pierquin? 

MERCADET 
Precisely  so. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
And  you  have  had  them  since  this  morning? 

MERCADET 
Since  this  morning. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

I  see.  You  have  given  worthless  stock  in  exchange  for 
valueless  notes. 

MERCADET 
Sir! 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

And,  in  order  to  seal  the  bargain,  Pierquin,  one  of  the 
least  important  of  your  creditors,  has  given  you  a  delay  of 
three  months. 

MERCADET 
Who  told  you  that? 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

Who?  Who?  Pierquin  himself,  of  course,  as  soon  as  he 
learned  I  was  going  to  make  an  arrangement — 

MERCADET 
The  devil  he  did! 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Ah !    You  were  going  to  give  two  hundred  thousand  francs 


260  MERCADET 

as  a  dowry  to  your  daughter,  and  you  had  debts  to  the 
amount  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  thousand !  Between  our- 
selves it  looks  like  you  who  had  been  trying  to  swindle  the 
son-in-law,  sir — 

MERCADET  (angrily) 

Sir! — (calming  himself).     This  is  merely  between  our- 
selves, sir. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
You  took  advantage  of  my  inexperience ! 

MERCADET 

Of  course  I  did !     The  inexperience  of  a  man  who  raises 
a  loan  on  his  sand  wastes  fifty  per  cent  above  their  value. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Glass  can  be  made  out  of  sand! 

MERCADET 
That's  a  good  idea ! 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Therefore,  sir — 

MERCADET 

Silence!     Promise  me  that  this  broken  marriage-contract 
shall  be  kept  secret. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

I  swear  it  shall —  Ah !  excepting  to  Pierquin.    I  have  just 
written  to  him  to  set  his  mind  at  rest. 

MERCADET 
Is  that  the  letter  you  sent  by  Justin? 

DH  LA  BRIVE 
The  very  one. 


MERCADET  261 

MERCADET 
And  what  have  you  told  him? 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

The  name  of  my  father-in-law.  Confound  it! — I  thought 
you  were  rich. 

MERCADET   (despairingly) 

And  you  have  written  that  to  Pierquin  ?  It's  all  up  !  This 
fresh  defeat  will  be  known  on  the  Exchange !  But,  any  way, 
I  am  ruined !  Suppose  I  write  to  him — Suppose  I  ask  him — 
(He  goes  to  the  table  to  write.) 


SCENE  NINTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  MME.  MERCADET,  JULIE  AND  VERDELTN. 

MME.  MERCADET 
My  friend,  M.  Verdelin. 

JULIE  (to  Verdelin) 
Here  is  my  father,  sir. 

MERCADET 

Ah!     It  is  you,  is  it  Verdelin — and  you  are  come  to  din- 
ner? 

VERDELIN 
No,  I  am  not  come  to  dinner. 

MERCADET   (aside) 
He  knows  all.    He  is  furious ! 

VERDELIN 
And  this  gentleman  is  your  son-in-law? — (Verdelin  bows 


2G2  .         MERCADET 

to  De  la  Brive.)     This  is  a  fine  marriage  you  are  going  to 
make! 

MERCADET 
The  marriage,  my  dear  sir,  is  not  going  to  take  place. 

JULIE 

How  happy  I  feel!  (De  la  Brive  bows  to  her.  She  casts 
down  her  eyes.) 

MME.  MERCADET  (seizing  her  hand) 
My  dear  daughter ! 

MERCADET 
I  have  been  deceived  by  Mericourt. 

VERDELIN 

And  you  have  played  on  me  one  of  your  tricks  this  morn- 
ing, for  the  purpose  of  getting  a  thousand  crowns;  but  the 
whole  incident  has  been  made  public  on  the  Exchange,  and 
they  think  it  a  huge  joke ! 

MERCADET 
They  have  been  informed,   I   suppose- 

VERDELIN 

That  your  pocket-book  is  full  of  the  notes  of  hand  signed 
by  your  son-in-law.  And  Pierquin  tells  me  that  your  credi- 
tors are  exasperated,  and  are  to  meet  to-night  at  the  house 
of  Goulard  to  conclude  measures  for  united  action  against  you 
to-morrow ! 

MERCADET 

To-night !  To-morrow !  Ah  !  I  hear  the  knell  of  bank- 
ruptcy sound ! 


MERCADET  263 

VERDELIN 

Yes,  to-morrow  they  are  going  to  send  a  prison  cab  for 
you. 

MME  MERCADET  AND  JULIE. 
God  help  us ! 

MERCADET 

I  see  the  carriage,  the  hearse  of  the  speculator,  carrying 
me  to  Clichy ! 

VERDELIN 

They  wish,  as  far  as  possible,  to  rid  the  Exchange  of  all 
sharpers ! 

MERCADET 

They  are  fools,  for  in  that  case  they  will  turn  it  into  a 
desert !  And  so  I  am  ruined !  Expelled  from  the  Exchange 
with  all  the  sequela  of  bankruptcy, — shame,  beggary !  I  can- 
not believe  it, — it  is  impossible ! 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Believe  me,  sir,  that  I  regret  having  been  in  some  degree — 

MERCADET  (looking  him  in  the  face) 

You !  (In  a  low  voice  to  him)  Listen  to  me:  you  have  hur- 
ried on  my  destruction,  but  you  have  it  in  your  power  to  help 
me  to  escape. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
On  what  conditions? 

MERCADET 

I  will  make  you  a  good  offer !  (Aloud,  as  they  start  toward 
opposite  doors)  True,  the  idea  is  a  bold  one! — But  to-mor- 
row, the  'Change  will  recognize  in  me  one  of  its  master  spirits. 

VERDELIN 
What  is  he  talking  about? 


264  MERCADET 

MERCADET 

To-morrow,  all  my  debts  will  be  paid,  and  the  house  of 
Mercadet  will  be  turning  over  millions — I  shall  be  acknowl- 
edged as  the  Napoleon  of  finance. 

VERDELIN 
What  a  man  he  is ! 

MERCADET 
And  a  Napoleon  who  meets  no  Waterloo! 

VERDELIN 
But  where  are  your  troops? 

MERCADET 

My  army  is  cash  in  hand !  What  answer  can  be  made  to 
a  business  man  who  says,  "Take  your  money !"  Come  let  us 
dine  now. 

VERDELIN 
Certainly.     I  shall  be  delighted  to  dine  with  you. 

MERCADET   (while  they  all  move  towards  the  dining-room, 

aside) 

They  are  all  glad  of  it!  To-morrow  I  will  either  com- 
mand millions,  or  rest  in  the  damp  winding-sheet  of  the 
Seine ! 

Curtain  to  the  Second  Act. 


MERCADET  265 


ACT  III. 


SCENE  FIRST. 

(Another  apartment  in  Mercadet's  house,  well  furnished. 
At  the  back  and  in  the  centre  is  a  mantel-piece,  having  instead 
of  a  mirror  a  clear  plate  of  glass;  side  doors;  a  large  table, 
surrounded  by  chairs,  in  the  middle  of  the  stage;  sofa  and 
armchairs.} 

JUSTIN,  THERESE  AND  YIRGINIE,  THEN  MERCADET. 

(Justin  enters  first  and,  beckons  to  Therese.  Virginie,  car- 
rying papers,  sits  insolently  on  the  sofa.  Justin  looks  through 
the  keyhole  of  the  door  on  the  left  side  and  listens.) 

THERESE 

Is  it  possible  that  they  could  pretend  to  conceal  from  us 
the  condition  of  their  affairs  ? 

VIRGINIE 

Old  Gruneau  tells  me  that  the  master  is  soon  to  be  arrested ; 
I  hope  that  what  I  have  spent  will  be  taken  account  of,  for 
he  owes  me  the  money  for  these  bills,  besides  my  wages ! 

THERESE 

Oh !  set  your  mind  at  rest.  We  are  likely  to  lose  everything, 
for  the  master  is  bankrupt. 

JUSTIN 

I  can't  hear  anything.  They  speak  too  low!  They  don't 
trust  us. 


266  MERCADET 

VIRGINIE 
It  is  frightful ! 

JUSTIN  (with  his  ear  to  the  half -open  door) 

Wait,  I  think  I  hear  something.  (The  door  bursts  open  and 
Mercadet  appears.) 

MERCADET  (to  Justin) 
Don't  let  me  disturb  you. 

JUSTIN 
Sir.    I — I — was  just  putting — 

MERCADET 

Really!  (To  Virginie,  who  jumps  up  suddenly  from  the 
sofa)  Keep  your  seat,  Mile.  Virginie,  and  you,  M.  Justin. 
Why  didn't  you  come  in?  We  were  talking  about  my  busi- 
ness 

JUSTIN 
You  amuse  me,  sir. 

MERCADET 
I  am  heartily  glad  of  it. 

JUSTIN 
You  take  trouble  easy,  sir. 

MERCADET  (severely) 

That  will  do,  all  of  you.  And  remember  that  from  this  time 
forth  I  see  all  who  call.  Treat  no  one  either  with  insolence 
or  too  much  humility,  for  you  will  meet  here  no  creditors,  but 
such  as  have  been  paid. 

JUSTIN 
Oh,  bosh ! 


MERCADET  267 

MERCADET 

Go! — (The  central  door  opens.    Mme.  Mercadet,  Julie  and 
Minard  appear.    The  servants  leave  the  room.) 


SCENE  SECOND. 
MERCADET,  MME.  MERCADET,  JULIE  AND  MINARD. 

MERCADET  (aside) 

I  am  annoyed  to  see  my  wife  and  daughter  here.  In  my 
present  circumstances,  women  are  likely  to  spoil  everything, 
for  they  have  nerves.  (Aloud)  What  is  it,  Mme.  Mercadet? 

MME.  MERCADET 

Sir,  you  were  counting  on  the  marriage  of  Julie  to  establish 
your  credit  and  reassure  your  creditors,  but  the  event  of  yes- 
terday has  put  you  at  their  mercy — 

MERCADET  • 

Do  you  think  so?  Well,  you  are  quite  mistaken.  I  beg 
your  pardon,  M.  Minard,  but  what  brings  you  here  ? 

MINARD 

Sir— I— 

JULIE 
Father — it  is — 

MERCADET 
Are  you  come  to  ask  again  for  my  daughter  ? 

MINARD 
Yes,  sir. 

MERCADET 
But  everybody  says  that  I  am  going  to  fail — 


268  MERCADET 

MlNARD 

I  know  it,  sir. 

MERCADET 
And  would  you  marry  the  daughter  of  a  bankrupt  ? 

MINARD 
Yes,  for  I  would  work  to  re-establish  him. 

JULIE 
That's  good,  Adolphe. 

MERCADET  (aside) 

A  fine  young  fellow.  I  will  give  him  an  interest  in  the  first 
big  business  I  do. 

MINARD 

I  have  made  known  my  attachment  to  the  man  I  look  upon 
as  a  father.  He  has  informed  me — that  I  am  the  possessor  of 
a  small  fortune — 

.  MERCADET 

A  fortune ! 

MINARD 

When  I  was  confided  to  his  care,  a  sum  of  money  was  en- 
trusted to  him,  which  has  increased  by  interest,  and  I  now 
possess  thirty  thousand  francs. 

MERCADET 
Thirty  thousand  francs ! 

MINARD 

On  learning  of  the  disaster  that  had  befallen  you,  I  realized 
this  sum,  and  I  bring  it  to  you,  sir;  for  sometimes  in  these 
cases  an  arrangement  can  be  made  by  paying  something  on 
account — 


MERCADET  269 

MME.  MEECADBT 
He  has  an  excellent  heart ! 

JULIE  (with  pride) 
Yes,  indeed,  papa ! — 

MERCADET 

Thirty  thousand  francs.  (Aside)  They  might  be  tripled 
by  buying  some  of  Verdelin's  stock  and  then  doubled  with — 
No,  no.  (To  Minard)  My  boy,  you  are  at  the  age  of  self- 
sacrifice.  If  I  could  pay  two  hundred  thousand  francs  with 
thirty  thousand,  the  fortune  of  France,  of  myself  and  of  most 
people  would  be  made. — No,  keep  your  money ! 

MlNAED 

What!    You  refuse  it? 

MERCADET   (aside) 

If  with  this  I  could  keep  them  quiet  for  a  month,  if  by  some 
bold  stroke  I  could  revive  the  depression  in  my  property,  it 
might  be  all  right. — But  the  money  of  these  poor  children,  it 
cut  me  to  the  heart  to  think  of  it,  for  when  they  are  in  tears 
people  calculate  amiss;  it  is  not  well  to  risk  the  money  of 
any  but  fellow-brokers — no — no — (Aloud)  Adolphe,  you  may 
marry  my  daughter ! 

MINARD 
Oh!  sir! — Julie — my  own  Julie — 

MERCADET 

That  is,  of  course,  as  soon  as  she  has  three  hundred  thousand 
francs  as  dowry. 

MME.  MERCADET 
My  dear ! 

JULIE 
Papa! 


270  MERCADET 

MlNAED 

Ah,  sir ! — How  long  are  you  going  to  put  me  off? 

MERCADET 

Put  you  off? — She  will  have  it  in  a  month!  Perhaps 
sooner — 

ALL 
How  is  that? 

MERCADET 

Yes,  by  the  use  of  my  brains — and  a  little  money.  (Minard 
holds  out  his  pocketbook.)  But  lock  up  those  bills !  And  come 
take  away  my  wife  and  daughter.  I  want  to  be  alone. 

MME.  MERCADET  (aside) 

Is  he  going  to  hatch  some  plot  against  his  creditors?  I 
must  find  out. — Come,  Julie. 

JULIE 
Papa,  how  good  you  are ! 

MERCADET 
Nonsense ! 

JULIE 
I  love  you  so  much. 

MERCADET 
Nonsense  I 

JULIE 

Adolphe,  I  do  not  thank  you,  I  shall  have  all  my  life  for 
that. 

MINARD 
Dearest  Julie ! 

MERCADET  (leading  them  out) 

'  Come,  now,  you  had  better  breathe  out  your  idyls  in  some 
more  retired  spot.    (They  go  out.) 


MERCADET  871 

SCENE  THIRD. 
MEBCADET,  THEN  DE  LA  BRIVE. 

MERCADET 

I  have  resisted — it  was  a  good  impulse !  But  I  was  wrong  to 
obey  it.  If  I  finally  yield  to  the  temptation,  I  can  make  their 
little  capital  worth  very  much  more.  I  shall  manage  this  for- 
tune for  them.  My  poor  daughter  has  indeed  a  good  lover. 
What  hearts  of  gold  are  theirs  !  Dear  children !  ( Goes  towards 
the  door  at  the  right.)  I  must  make  their  fortune.  De  la 
Brive  is  here  awaiting  me.  (Looking  through  the  open  door) 
I  believe  he  is  asleep.  I  gave  him  a  little  too  much  wine,  so  as 
to  handle  him  more  easily.  (Shouting)  Michonnin!  The 
constable!  The  constable! 

DE  LA  BRIVE  (coming  out,  rubbing  his  eyes) 
Hello!    What  are  you  saying? 

MERCADET 

Don't  be  frightened;  I  only  wanted  to  wake  you  up.  (Takes 
his  seat  at  the  table.) 

DE  LA  BRIVE  (sitting  at  the  other  side  of  the  table) 
Sir,  an  orgie  acts  on  the  mind  like  a  storm  on  the  country. 
It  brings  refreshment,  it  clothes  with  verdure!  And  ideas 
spring  forth  and  bloom!    In  vino  varietas! 

MERCADET 

Yesterday,  our  conversation  on  business  matters  was  inter- 
rupted. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

Father-in-law,  I  recall  it  distinctly — we  recognized  the  fact 
that  our  houses  could  not  keep  their  engagements.  We  were  on 
the  point  of  bankruptcy,  and  you  are  unfortunate  enough  to  be 


272  MERCADET 

my  creditor,  while  I  am  fortunate  enough  to  be  your  debtor 
to  the  amount  of  forty-seven  thousand,  two  hundred  and  thir- 
ty-three francs  and  some  centimes. 

MERCADET 
Your  head  is  level  enough. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

But  my  pocket  and  my  conscience  are  a  little  out.  Yet  who 
can  reproach  me  ?  By  squandering  my  fortune  I  have  brought 
profit  to  every  trade  in  Paris,  and  even  to  those  who  do  not 
know  me.  We,  the  useless  ones !  We,  the  idlers  ! — Upon  my 
soul !  It  is  we  who  keep  up  the  circulation  of  money — 

MERCADET 

By  means  of  the  money  in  circulation — Ah!  you  have  all 
your  wits  about  you! 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
But  I  have  nothing  else. 

MERCADET 

Our  wits  are  our  mint.  Is  it  not  so? — But,  considering 
your  present  situation,  I  shall  be  brief. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
That  is  why  I  take  a  seat. 

MERCADET 

Listen  to  me.  I  see  that  you  are  going  down  the  steep 
way  which  leads  to  that  daring  cleverness  for  which  fools 
blame  successful  operators.  You  have  tested  the  piquant 
intoxicating  fruits  of  Parisian  pleasure.  You  have  made 
luxury  the  inseparable  companion  of  your  life.  Paris  begins 
at  the  Place  de  1'fitoile,  and  ends  at  the  Jockey  Club.  That 


MERCADET  273 

is  your -Paris,  which  is  the  world  of  women  who  are  talked 
about  too  much,  or  not  at  all. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
That  is  true. 

MERCADET 

You  breathe  the  cynical  atmosphere  of  wits  and  journalists, 
the  atmosphere  of  the  theatre  and  of  the  ministry.  It  is  a 
vast  sea  in  which  thousands  are  casting  their  nets!  You 
must  either  continue  this  existence,  or  blow  your  brains  out ! 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

No!  For  it  is  impossible  to  think  that  it  can  continue 
without  me. 

MERCADET 

Do  you  feel  that  you  have  the  genius  to  maintain  yourself 
in  style  at  the  height  to  which  you  aspire? — To  dominate 
men  of  mind  by  the  power  of  capital  and  superiority  of  intel- 
lect? Do  you  think  that  you  will  always  have  skill  enough 
to  keep  afloat  between  the  two  capes,  which  have  seen  the 
life  of  elegance  so  often  founder  between  the  cheap  restaurant 
and  the  debtors'  prison? 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

Why!  You  are  breaking  into  my  conscience  like  a  bur- 
glar— you  echo  my  very  thought !  What  do  you  want  with 
me? 

MERCADET 

I  wish  to  rescue  you,  by  launching  you  into  the  world  of 
business. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
By  what  entrance  ? 

MERCADET 
Let  me  choose  the  door. 


274  MERCADET 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
The  devil! 

MERCADET 

Show  yourself  a  man  who  will  compromise  himself  for 
me — 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
But  men  of  straw  may  be  burnt. 

MERCADET 
You  must  be  incombustible. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
What  are  the  terms  of  our  copartnership? 

i 

MERCADET 

You  try  to  serve  me  in  the  desperate  circumstances  in 
which  I  am  at  present,  and  I  will  make  you  a  present  of  your 
forty-seven  thousand,  two  hundred  and  thirty-three  francs,  to 
say  nothing  of  the  centimes.  Between  ourselves,  I  may  say 
that  only  address  is  needed. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
In  the  use  of  the  pistol  or  the  sword? 

MERCADET 
No  one  is  to  be  killed;  on  the  contrary — 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
That  will  suit  me. 

MERCADET 
A  man  is  to  be  brought  to  life  again. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
That  doesn't  suit  me  at  all,  my  dear  fellow.    The  legacy, 


MERCADET  275 

the  chest  of  Harpagon,  the  little  mule  of  Scapin  and,  indeed, 
all  the  farces  which  have  made  us  laugh  on  the  ancient  stage 
are  not  well  received  nowadays  in  real  life.  The  police 
have  a  way  of  getting  mixed  up  with  them,  and  since  the 
abolition  of  privileges,  no  one  can  administer  a  drubbing 
with  impunity. 

MERCADET 

Well,  what  do  you  think  of  five  years  in  debtors'  prison? 
Eh?  What  a  fate!— 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  my  decision  must  depend  upon  what 
you  want  me  to  do  to  any  one,  for  my  honor  so  far  is  intact 
and  is  worth — 

MERCADET 

You  must  invest  it  well,  for  we  shall  have  dire  need  of  all 
that  it  is  worth.  I  want  you  to  assist  me  in  sitting  at  the 
table  which  the  Exchange  always  keeps  spread,  and  we  will 
gorge  ourselves  with  the  good  things  there  offered  us,  for 
you  must  admit  that  while  those  who  seek  for  millions  have 
great  difficulty  in  finding  them,  they  are  never  found  by 
those  who  do  not  seek. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

I  think  I  can  co-operate  with  you  in  this  matter.  You  will 
return  to  me  my  forty-seven  thousand  francs — 

MERCADET 
Yes,  sir. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
I  am  not  required  to  be  anything  but  be — very  clever? 

MERCADET 

Nimble,  but  this  nimbleness  will  be  exercised,  as  the  Eng« 
lish  say,  on  the  right  side  of  the  law. 


276  MERCADET 

DE  LA  BRIVB 
What  is  it  you  propose? 

MEECADET   (giving  Mm  a  paper) 

Here  are  your  written  instructions.  You  are  to  represent 
something  like  an  uncle  from  America — in  fact,  my  partner, 
who  has  just  come  back  from  the  West  Indies. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
I  understand. 

MERCADET 

Go  to  the  Champs-Elysees,  secure  a  post-chaise  that  has 
been  much  battered,  have  horses  harnessed  to  it,  and  make 
your  arrival  here  wrapped  in  a  great  pelisse,  your  head  envel- 
oped in  a  huge  cap,  while  you  shiver  like  a  man  who  finds  our 
summer  icy  cold.  I  .will  receive  you ;  I  will  conduct  you  in ; 
you  will  speak  to  my  creditors ;  not  one  of  them  knows  Godeau; 
you  will  make  them  give  me  more  time. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
How  much  time? 

MERCADET 

I  need  only  two  days — two  days,  in  order  that  Pierquin 
may  complete  certain  purchases  which  we  have  ordered.  Two 
days  in  order  that  the  stock  which  I  know  how  to  inflate  may 
have  time  to  rise.  You  will  be  my  backer,  my  security.  And 
as  no  one  will  recognize  you — 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

I  shall  cease  to  be  this  personage  as  soon  as  I  have  paid 
you  forty-seven  thousand,  two  hundred  and  thirty-three  francs 
and  some  centimes. 

MERCADET 
That  is  so.    But  I  hear  some  one — my  wife — 


MERCADET  277 

MME.  MERCADET  (enters) 

My  dear,  there  are  some  letters  for  you,  and  the  bearer  re- 
quires an  answer.  (She  withdraws  to  the  fireplace.) 

MERCADET 

I  suppose  I  must  go.  Good-day,  my  dear  De  la  Brive. 
(In  a  low  voice)  Not  a  word  to  my  wife ;  she  would  not  under- 
stand the  operation,  and  would  misconstrue  it.  (Aloud)  Go 
quickly,  and  forget  nothing. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

You  need  have  no  fear.  (Mer cadet  goes  out  by  the  left; 
De  la  Brive  starts  to  go  out  by  the  centre,  but  Mme.  Mer- 
cadet  intercepts  him.) 


SCENE  FOURTH. 
MME.  MERCADET  AND  DE  LA  BRIVE. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Madame  ? 

MME.  MERCADET 
Forgive  me,  sir! 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Kindly  excuse  me,  madame,  I  must  be  going— 

MME.  MERCADET 
You  must  not  go. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
But  you  are  not  aware — 

MME.  MERCADET 
I  know  all. 


278  MERCADET 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
How  is  that? 

MME.  MERCADET 

You  and  my  husband  are  bent  upon  resorting  to  some  very 
ancient  expedients  proper  to  the  comic  drama,  and  I  have 
employed  one  which  is  more  ancient  still.  And  as  I  told  you, 
I  know  all — 

DE  LA  BRIVE  (aside) 
She  must  have  been  listening. 

MME.  MERCADET 

Sir,  the  part  which  you  have  been  induced  to  undertake  is 
blameworthy  and  shameful,  and  you  must  give  it  up — 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
But  after  all,  madame — 

MME.  MERCADET 

Oh !  I  know  to  whom  I  am  speaking,  sir ;  it  was  only  a  few 
hours  ago  that  I  saw  you  for  the  first  time,  and  yet — I  think 
I  know  you. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

Eeally  ?  I  am  sure  I  do  not  know  what  opinion  you  have  of 
me. 

MME.  MERCADET 

One  day  has  given  me  time  to  form  a  correct  judgment  of 
you — and  at  the  very  time  that  my  husband  was  trying  to  dis- 
cover some  foible  in  you  he  might  make  use  of,  or  what  evil 
passions  he  might  rouse  in  you,  I  looked  in  your  heart  and 
discerned  that  it  still  contained  good  feelings  which  eventually 
may  prove  your  salvation. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Prove  my  salvation  ?     Excuse  me,  madame. 


MERCADET  279 

MME.  MERCADET 

Yes,  sir,  prove  your  salvation  and  that  of  my  husband;  for 
both  of  you  are  on  the  way  to  ruin.  For  you  must  understand 
that  debts  are  no  disgrace  to  any  one  who  admits  them  and 
toils  for  their  payment.  You  have  your  whole  life  before 
you,  and  you  have  too  much  good  sense  to  wish  that  it  should 
be  blighted  through  engaging  in  a  business  which  justice  is 
sure  to  punish. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

Justice!  Ah!  You  are  right,  madame,  and  I  certainly 
would  not  lend  myself  to  this  dangerous  comedy,  unless  your 
husband  had  some  notes  of  hand  of  mine — 

MME.  MERCADET 
Which  he  will  surrender  to  you,  sir,  I'll  promise  you  that. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
But,  madame,  I  cannot  pay  them — 

MME.  MERCADET 

We  will  be  satisfied  with  your  word,  and  you  will  discharge 
your  obligation  as  soon  as  you  have  honestly  made  your  for- 
tune. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Honestly ! — That  will  be  perhaps  a  long  time  to  wait. 

MME.  MERCADET 

We  will  be  patient.  And  now,  sir,  go  and  inform  my  hus- 
band that  he  must  give  up  this  attempt  because  he  will  not 
have  your  co-operation.  (She  goes  towards  the  door  on  the 
left.) 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

I  should  be  rather  afraid  to  face  him — I  should  prefer  to 
write  to  him. 


280  MERCADET 

MME.  MERCADET  (pointing  out  to  him  the  door  by  which  he 

entered) 

You  will  find  the  necessary  writing  materials  in  that  room. 
Eemain  there  until  I  come  for  your  letter.  I  will  hand  it  to 
him  myself. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

I  will  do  so,  madame.  After  all  I  am  not  so  worthless  as  I 
thought  I  was.  It  is  you  who  have  taught  me  this;  you  have 
a  right  to  the  whole  credit  of  it.  (He  respectfully  kisses  Jin- 
hand.)  Thank  you,  madame,  thank  you!  (He  goes  out.) 

MME.  MERCADET 
I  have  succeeded — if  only  I  could  now  persuade  Mercadet. 

JUSTIN  (entering  from  the  centre) 
Madame — madame — here  they  are — all  of  them. 

MME.  MERCADET 
Who? 

JUSTIN 
The  creditors. 

MME.  MERCADET 
Already  ? — 

JUSTIN 
There  are  a  great  many  of  them,  madame. 

MME.  MERCADET 

Let  them  come  in  here.  I  will  go  and  inform  my  husband. 
(She  goes  out  by  one  door.  Justin  opens  the  other.) 


MERCADET  281 

SCENE  FIFTH. 

PIERQUIN,  GOULARD,  VIOLETTE  AND  SEVERAL  OTHBB 
CREDITORS. 

GOULARD 
Gentlemen,  we  have  quite  made  up  our  minds,  have  we  not  ? 

ALL 
We  have,  we  have — 

PlERQUIN" 

No  more  deluding  promises. 

GOULARD 
No  more  prayers  and  expostulations. 

VIOLETTE 

No  more  pretended  payments  on  account,  thrown  out  as  a 
bait  to  get  deeper  into  our  pockets. 


SCENE  SIXTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  MERCADET. 

MERCADET 

And  do  you  mean  to  tell  me  that  you  gentlemen  are  come  to 
force  me  into  bankruptcy  ? 

GOULARD 

We  shall  do  so,  unless  you  find  means  to  pay  us  in  full  this 
very  day. 

MERCADET 
To-day ! 


282  MERCADET 

PlERQUIN 

This  very  day. 

MERCADET  (standing  before  the  fireplace) 
Do  you  think  that  I  possess  the  plates  for  striking  off  Bank 
of  France  notes  ? 

VlOLETTE 

You  mean  that  you  have  no  offer  to  make  ? 

MERCADET 

Absolutely  none!  And  you  are  going  to  lock  me  up? — I 
warn  him  who  is  going  to  pay  for  the  cab  that  he  won't  be 
reimbursed  from  any  assets  of  mine. 

GOULARD 

I  shall  add  that  along  with  all  that  you  owe  me  to  the  debit 
of  your  account — 

MERCADET 
Thank  you.     You've  all  made  up  your  mind,  I  suppose  ? 

THE  CREDITORS 
We  have. 

MERCADET 

I  am  touched  by  your  unanimity ! — (Putting  out  his  watch) 
Two  o'clock.  (Aside)  De  la  Brive  has  had  quite  time  enough 
— he  ought  to  be  on  his  way  here. —  (Aloud)  Gentlemen,  you 
compel  me  to  admit  that  you  are  men  of  inspiration  and  have 
chosen  your  time  well ! 

PlERQUIN 

What  does  he  mean  ? 

MERCADET 

For  months,  for  years,  you  have  allowed  yourselves  to  be 
humbugged  by  fine  promises,  and  deceived — yes,  deceived  by 
preposterous  stories;  and  to-day  is  the  day  you  choose  for 


MERCADET  283 

showing  yourselves  inexorable !    Upon  my  word  and  honor,  it 
is  positively  amusing !     By  all  means  let  us  start  for  Clichy. 

GOULARD 
But,  sir — 

PIERQUIN 
He  is  laughing. 

VIOLETTE  (rising  from  his  chair) 

There  is  something  in  the  wind.  Gentlemen,  there  is  some- 
thing in  the  wind ! — 

PlERQUIN 

Please  explain  to  us — 

GOULABD 

We  desire  to  know — 

VIOLETTE   (rising  to  his  feet) 
M.  Mercadet,  if  there  is  anything — tell  us  about  it. 

MERCADET  (coming  to  the  table) 

Nothing!  I  shall  say  nothing,  not  I — I  wish  to  be  put 
behind  the  bars ! — I  would  like  to  see  the  figure  you  all  will 
cut  to-morrow  or  this  evening,  when  you  find  he  has  returned. 

GOULARD  (rising  to  his  feet) 
He  has  returned? 

PlERQUIN 

Returned  from  where  ? 

VIOLETTE 
Who  has  returned  ? 

MERCADET  (coming  forward) 
Nobody  has  returned.    Let  us  start  for  Clichy,  gentlemen. 


284  MERCADET 

GOULARD 
But  listen,  if  you  are  expecting  any  assistance — 

PlERQUIN 

If  you  have  any  hope  that — 

VIOLETTE 
Or  if  even  some  considerable  legacy — 

GOULARD 
Come,  now ! 

PlERQUIN 

Answer — 

VIOLETTE 

Tell  us— 

MERCADET 

Now,  take  care,  I  beg  you.  You  are  giving  way,  you  are 
giving  way,  gentlemen,  and  if  I  wished  to  take  the  trouble, 
I  could  win  you  over  again.  Come  now,  act  like  genuine 
creditors !  Eidicule  the  past,  forget  the  brilliant  strokes  of 
business  I  put  within  the  power  of  each  of  you  before  the 
sudden  departure  of  my  faithful  Godeau — 

GOULARD 
His  faithful  Godeau ! 

PlERQUIN 

Ah!     If  there  were  only — 

MERCADET 

Forget  all  that  prosperous  past,  take  no  account  of  what 
might  induce  him  to  return — after  being  waited  for  so  long — 
and — let  us  start  for  Clichy,  gentlemen,  let  us  start  for 
Clichy!— 

VIOLETTE 
Mercadet,  you  are  expecting  Godeau,  aren't  you? 


286 

MERCADET 
No! 

VIOLETTE    (as  with  a  sudden  inspiration) 
Gentlemen,  he  is  expecting  Godeau! 

GOULARD 
Can  it  be  true? 

PIERQUIN 
Speak. 

ALL 
Speak !    Speak ! 

MERCADET  (with  feeble  deprecations) 

Why  no,  no — yet  I  do  not  know — I — Certainly,  it  is  pos- 
sible that  some  day  or  other  he  may  return  from  the  Indies 
with  some — considerable  fortune — .  (In  a  decided  tone)  But 
I  give  you  my  word  of  honor  that  I  don't  expect  Godeau  here 
to-day. 

VIOLETTE    (excitedly) 

Then  it  must  be  to-morrow ! — Gentlemen,  he  expects  him 
to-morrow ! 

GOULARD  (in  a  low  voice  to  the  others) 

Unless  this  is  some  fresh  trick  to  gain  time  and  ridicule 
us — 

PIERQUIN    (aloud) 
Do  you  think  it  might  be  ? 

GOULARD 
It  is  quite  possible. 

VIOLETTE  (in  a  loud  tone) 
Gentlemen,  he  is  fooling  us. 


286  MERCADET 

MERCADET  (aside) 

The  devil  he  is !     (Aloud)  Come,  gentlemen,  we  had  better 
be  starting. 

GOULARD 
I  swear  that — (The  rumbling  of  carriage  wheels  is  heard.) 

MERCADET  (aside) 

At  last!     (Aloud)  Oh,  heavens!     (He  lays  his  hand  upon 
his  heart.) 

A  POSTILLION   (outside) 
A  carriage  at  the  door. 

MERCADET 
Ah!     (Falls  back  on  a  chair  near  the  table.) 

GOULARD    (looking   through   the  pane   of    glass    above   the 
mantel) 
A  carriage ! 

PIERQUIN   (doing  the  same) 
A  post-chaise ! 

VIOLETTE  (doing  the  same) 
Gentlemen,  a  post-chaise  is  at  the  door. 

MERCADET  (aside) 

My  dear  De  la  Brive  could  not  have  arrived  at  a  better 
moment ! 

GOULARD 
See  how  dusty  it  is ! 

VIOLETTE 

And  battered  to  the  very  hood !     It  must  have  come  from 
the  heart  of  the  Indies,  to  be  as  battered  as  that. 


MERCADET  287 

MEECADET  (mildly) 

You  don't  know  what  you  are  talking  about,  Violette! 
Why,  my  good  fellow,  people  don't  arrive  from  the  Indies 
by  land. 

GOULARD 

But  come  and  see  for  yourself,  Mercadet ;  a  man  has  stepped 
out — 

PIERQUIN 
Enveloped  in  a  large  pelisse — do  come — 

MEECADET 
No — pardon  me.  The  joy — the  excitement — I — 

VIOLETTE 

He  carries  a  chest.  Oh !  what  a  huge  chest !  Gentlemen, 
it  is  Godeau !  I  recognize  him  by  the  chest. 

MERCADET 
Yes — I  was  expecting  Godeau. 

GOULARD 
He  has  come  back  from  Calcutta. 

PIERQUIN 
With  a  fortune. 

MERCADET 
Of  incalculable  extent! 

VIOLETTE 

What  have  I  been  saying?  (He  goes  in  silence  to  Mercadet 
and  grasps  his  hand.  The  two  others  follow  his  example,  and 
then  all  the  creditors  form  a  ring  round  Mercadet.) 

MERCADET  (with  seeming  emotion) 

Oh! — gentlemen — my  friends — my  dear  comrades — my 
children ! — 


288  MERCADET 

SCENE    SEVENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  MME.  MERCADET. 

MME.  MERCADET  (entering  from  the  left) 
Mercadet!    my  dear! 


It  is  my  wife.  I  thought  that  she  had  gone  out.  She  is 
going  to  ruin  everything! 

MME.  MERCADET 
My  dear ! — I  see  that  you  don't  know  what  has  happened  ? 

MERCADET 
I?    No,  I  don't— if  I— 

MME.  MERCADET 
Godeau  is  returned. 

MERCADET 
Ah!   You  say?     (Aside)  I  wonder  if  she  suspects — 

MME.  MERCADET 

I  have  seen  him — I  have  spoken  to  him. — It  was  I  who 
saw  him  first. 

MERCADET  (aside) 

De  la  Brive  has  won  her  over! — What  a  man  he  is!  (To 
Mme.  Mercadet,  low)  Good,  my  dear  wife,  good!  You 
will  be  our  salvation. 

MME.  MERCADET 
But  you  don't  understand  me,  it  is  really  he,  it  is — 


MERCADET  289 

MERCADET  (in  a  low  voice) 

Hush  !  (Aloud)  I  must  —  gentlemen  —  I  must  go  and  wel- 
come him. 

MME.  MERCADET 

No  —  wait,  wait  a  little,  my  dear;  poor  Godeau  has  over- 
taxed his  strength  —  scarcely  had  he  reached  my  apartment 
when  fatigue,  excitement  and  a  nervous  attack  overcame 
him  — 

MERCADET 
Eeally  !  (Aside)  How  well  she  does  it!  — 

VIOLETTE 
Poor  Godeau! 

MME.  MERCADET 

"Madame,"  he  said  to  me,  "go  and  see  your  husband. 
Bring  me  back  his  pardon  ;  I  do  not  wish  to  see  him  face  to 
face,  until  I  have  repaired  the  past/' 

GOULARD 
That  was  fine. 

PIERQUIN 
It  was  sublime. 

VIOLETTE 
It  melts  me  to  tears,  gentlemen,  it  melts  me  to  tears. 

MERCADET  (aside) 

Look  at  that!  Well!  There's  a  woman  worth  calling  a 
wife!  (Talcing  her  by  the  hand)  My  darling  —  Excuse  me, 
gentlemen.  —  (He  kisses  her  on  both  cheeks.  In  a  low  voice) 
Things  are  going  on  finely. 


.  MERCADET  (in  a  low  voice) 
How  lucky  this  is,  my  dear!     Better  than  anything  you 
could  have  fancied. 


290  MERCADET 

MERCADET 

I  should  think  so.  (Aside)  It  is  very  much  better.  (Aloud) 
Go  and  look  after  him,  my  dear.  And  you,  gentlemen,  be 
good  enough  to  pass  into  my  office.  (He  points  to  the  left.) 
Wait  there  till  we  settle  our  accounts.  (Mme.  Mercadet  goes 
out.) 

GOULABD 

I  am  at  your  service,  my  friend— 

PIERQUIN 
Oar  excellent  friend. 

VlOLETTE 

Friend,  we  are  at  your  service. 

MERCADET  (supporting  himself  half -dazed  against  the  table) 

What  do  you  think? — and  people  said  that  I  was  nothing 
but  a  sharper ! 

GOULARD 
You?    You  are  one  of  the  most  capable  men  in  Paris. 

PIERQUIN 
Who  is  bound  to  make  a  million — as  soon  as  he  has  a — 

VlOLETTE 

Dear  M.  Mercadet,  we  will  give  you  as  much  time  as  you 
want. 

ALL 
Certainly. 

MERCADET 

That  is  a  little  late — but  gentlemen,  I  thank  you  as  heartily 
as  if  you  had  said  it  yesterday  morning.  Good-day.  (In  a 
low  voice  to  Goulard)  Within  an  hour  your  stock  shall  be 
sold — 


MERCADET  291 

GOULARD 
Goodf 

MERCADET  (in  a  low  voice  to  Pierquin) 
Stay  where  you  are.     (All  the  others  enter  the  office.) 

PIERQUIN 
What  can  I  do  for  you  ? 


SCENE  EIGHTH. 
MERCADET  AND  PIERQUIN. 

MERCADET 

We  are  now  alone.  There  is  no  time  to  lose.  The  stock  of 
Basse-Indre  went  down  yesterday.  Go  to  the  Exchange,  buy 
up  two  hundred,  three  hundred,  four  hundred — Goulard  will 
deliver  them  to  you — 

PIERQUIN 
And  for  what  date,  and  on  what  collateral? 

MERCADET 

Collateral  ?  Nonsense !  This  is  a  cash  deal ;  bring  them  to 
me  to-day,  and  I  will  pay  to-morrow. 

PIERQUIN 
To-morrow  ? 

MERCADET 
To-morrow  the  stock  will  have  risen. 

PIERQUIN 

I  suppose,  considering  your  situation,  that  you  are  buying 
for  Godeau. 


292  MERCADET 

MEKCADET 
Do  you  think  so  ? 

PlERQUIN 

I  presume  he  gave  his  orders  in  the  letter  which  announced 
his  return. 

MERCADET 

Possibly  so. — Ah !  Master  Pierquin,  we  are  going  to  take  a 
hand  in  business  again,  and  I  guess  that  you  will  gain  from 
this  to  the  end  of  the  year  something  like  a  hundred  thousand 
francs  in  brokerage  from  us. 

PIERQUIN 
A  hundred  thousand  francs ! 

MERCADET 

Let  the  stock  be  depressed  below  par,  and  then  buy  it  in, 
and — (handing  him  a  letter)  see  that  this  letter  appears  in 
the  evening  paper. — This  evening,  at  Tortoni's,  you  will  see 
an  immediate  rise  in  the  quotations.  Now  be  quick  about  this. 

PlERQUIN 

I  will  fly.    Good-bye.     (Exit.) 


SCENE  NINTH. 
MERCADET,  THEN  JUSTIN. 

MERCADET 

How  well  everything  is  going  on,  when  we  consider  our 
recent  complications!  When  Mahomet  had  three  reliable 
friends  (and  it  was  hard  to  find  them)  the  whole  world  was 
his !  I  have  now  won  over  as  my  allies  all  my  creditors,  thanks 
to  the  pretended  arrival  of  Godeau.  And  I  gain  eight  days, 


MERCADET  293 

which  means  fifteen,  with  regard  to  actual  payment.  I  shall 
buy  three  hundred  thousand  francs'  worth  of  Basse-Indre 
before  Verdelin.  And  when  Verdelin  asks  for  some  of  that 
stock,  he  will  find  it  has  risen,  for  a  demand  will  have  raised 
it  above  the  current  quotation,  and  I  shall  make  at  one  stroke 
six  hundred  thousand  francs.  With  three  hundred  thousand 
I  will  pay  my  creditors  and  show  myself  a  Napoleon  of 
finance.  (He  struts  up  and  down.} 

JUSTIN  (from  the  back  of  the  stage) 
Sir— 

MERCADET 
What  is  it — what  do  you  want,  Justin  ? 

JUSTIN 
Sir— 

MERCADET 
Goon!    Tell  me. 

JUSTIN 

M.  Violette  has  offered  me  sixty  francs  if  I  will  let  him 
speak  with  M.  Godeau. 

MERCADET 
Sixty  francs.     (Aside)     He  fleeced  me  out  of  them. 

JUSTIN 

I  am  sure,  sir,  that  you  wouldn't  like  me  to  lose  such  & 
present. 

MERCADET 
Let  him  have  his  way  with  you. 

JUSTIN 
Ah !  sir,  but — M.  Goulard  also — and  the  others — 

MERCADET 

Do  as  you  like — I  give  them  over  into  your  hands.    Fleece 
them  well ! 


294  MERCADET 

JUSTIN 
I'll  do  my  best    Thank  you,  sir. 

MERCADET 

Let  them  all  see  Godeau.  ( Aside)  De  la  Brive  is  well  able 
to  look  after  himself.  (Aloud)  But,  between  ourselves,  keep 
Pierquin  away.  (Aside)  He  would  recognize  his  dear  friend, 
Michonnin. 

JUSTIN 
I  understand,  sir.    Ah !  here  is  M.  Minard.    (Exit.) 


SCENE  TENTH. 
MERCADET  AND  MINARD. 

MINARD  (coming  forward) 
Ah,  sir! — 

MERCADET 
Well,  M.  Minard,  and  what  brings  you  here? 

MINARD 
Despair. 

MERCADET 
Despair? 

MINARD 

M.  Godeau  has  come  back ;  and  they  say  that  you  are  nov  \ 
millionaire ! — 

MERCADET 
Is  that  the  cause  of  your  despair  ? 

MINARD 
Yes,  sir. 


MERCADET  295 

MERCADET 

Well,  you  are  a  strange  fellow ! — I  disclose  to  yon  the  fact 
of  my  ruin  and  you  are  delighted.  You  learn  that  good  for- 
tune has  returned  to  me  and  you  are  overwhelmed  with  des- 
pair !  And  all  the  while  you  wish  to  enter  into  my  family ! — 
Yet  you  act  like  my  enemy — 

MINARD 

It  is  just  my  love  that  makes  your  good  fortune  so  alarming 
to  me;  I  fear  all  the  while  that  you  will  now  refuse  me  the 
hand — 

MERCADET 

Of  Julie  ?  My  dear  Adolphe,  all  men  of  business  have  not 
put  their  heart  in  their  money-bags.  Our  sentiments  are  not 
always  to  be  reckoned  by  debit  and  credit.  You  offered  me 
the  thirty  thousand  francs  that  you  possessed — I  certainly 
have  no  right  to  reject  you  on  account  of  certain  millions. 
(Aside)  Which  I  do  not  possess ! 

MlNAHD 

You  bring  back  life  to  me. 

MERCADET 

Well,  I  suppose  that  is  true,  but  so  much  the  better,  for  I 
am  very  fond  of  you.  You  are  simple,  honorable.  I  am 
touched,  I  am  delighted.  I  am  even  charmed.  Ah !  Let  me 
once  get  hold  of  my  six  hundred  thousand  francs  and — (Sees 
Pierquin  enter)  Here  they  come — 


SCENE  ELEVENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  PIERQUIN  AND  YERDELIN. 

MERCADET  (leading  Pierquin  to  the  front  of  the  stage  without 

perceiving  Verdelin) 
Is  it  all  right? 


296  MERCADET 

PIERQUIN  (in  some  embarrassment) 
It  is  all  right.    The  stock  is  ours. 

MERCADET  (joyfully) 
Bravo ! 

VERDELIN  (approaching  Mercadet) 
Good-day ! 

MERCADET 
What!  Verdelin— 

VERDELIN 

I  find  out  that  you  have  bought  the  stock  before  me,  and 
that  now  I  shall  have  to  pay  very  much  higher  than  I  ex- 
pected ;  but  it  is  all  right,  it  was  well  managed,  and  I  am  com- 
pelled to  cry,  "Hail  to  the  King  of  the  Exchange,  Hail  to  the 
Napoleon  of  Finance !"  (He  laughs  derisively.) 

MERCADET   (somewhat  abashed) 
What  does  he  mean? 

VERDELIN 
I'm  only  repeating  what  you  said  yesterday — 

MERCADET 
What  I  said?— 

PIERQUIN 

The  fact  of  it  is,  Verdelin  does  not  believe  in  the  return  of 
Godeau — 

MINARD 
Ah,  sir! 

MERCADET 
Is  there  any  doubt  about  it? 

VERDELIN  (ironically) 
Doubt  about  it !     There  is  more  than  doubt  about  it.     I  at 


MERCADET  297 

once  concluded  that  this  so-called  return  was  the  bold  stroke 
that  you  spoke  of  yesterday. 

MERCADET 
I — (Aside)  Stupid  of  me! 

VERDELIN 

I  concluded  that,  relying  upon  the  presence  of  this  fictitious 
Godeau,  you  made  purchases  with  the  idea  of  paying  on  the 
rise,  which  would  follow  to-morrow,  and  that  to-day  you  have 
actually  not  a  single  sou — 

MERCADET 
You  had  imagined  all  that  ? 

VERDELIN  (approaching  the  fireplace) 
Yes,  but  when  I  saw  outside  that  triumphal  post-chaise — 
that  model  of  Indian  manufacture, — and  I  realized  that  it  was 
impossible  to  find  such  a  vehicle  in  the  Champs-Elysees,  all 
my  doubts  disappeared  and — But  hand  him  over  the  bonds, 
M.  Pierquin! 

PlERQUIN 

The — bonds — it  happens  that — 

MERCADET  (aside) 

I  must  bluff,  or  I  am  lost ! —  ( Aloud)  Certainly,  produce 
the  bonds. 

PIERQUIN 
One  moment — if  what  this  gentleman  has  said  is  true— 

MERCADET    (haughtily) 
M.  Pierquin! 

MINARD 

But,  gentlemen — M.  Godeau  is  here — I  have  seen  him — I 
have  talked  with  him. 


298  MERCADET 

MERCADET   (to  Pierquin) 
He  has  talked  with  him,  sir — 

PIERQUIN   (to   Verdelin) 
The  fact  of  it  is,  I  have  seen  him  myself. 

VEEDELIN 

I  don't  doubt  it! — By  the  bye,  on  what  vessel  did  our 
friend  Godeau  say  he  arrived? 

MERCADET 
By  what  vessel? — It  was  by  the — by  the  Triton — 

•VERDELIN 

How  careless  the  English  newspapers  are.  They  have  pub- 
lished the  arrival  of  no  other  English  mail  packet  but  the 
Halcyon. 

PlERQUIN 

Eeally! 

MERCADET 
Let  us  end  this  discussion.     M.  Pierquin — those  bonds — 

PIERQUIN 

Pardon  me,  but  as  you  have  offered  no  collateral,  I  would 
wish — I  do  wish  to  speak  with  Godeau. 

MERCADET 

You  shall  not  speak  with  him,  sir.  I  cannot  permit  you 
to  doubt  my  word. 

VERDELIN 
This  is  superb. 

MERCADET 

M.  Minard,  go  to  Godeau — Tell  him  that  I  have  obtained 
an  option  on  three  hundred  thousand  francs'  worth  of  stock, 


MERCADET  299 

and  ask  him  to  send  me — (with  emphasis) — thirty  thousand 
francs  for  use  as  a  margin.  A  man  in  his  position  always 
has  such  a  sum  about  him.  (In  a  low  voice)  Do  not  fail  to 
bring  me  the  thirty  thousand. 

MINARD 
Yes,  sir.     (Goes  out,  through  the  right.) 

MERCADET    (haughtily) 
Will  that  satisfy  you,  M.  Pierquin  ? 

PlERQUIN 

Certainly,  certainly.  (To  Verdelin)  It  will  be  all  right 
when  he  comes  back. 

VERDELIN    (rising  from  his  seat) 
And  you  expect  that  he  will  bring  thirty  thousand  francs? 

MERCADET 

I  have  a  perfect  right  to  be  offended  by  your  insulting 
doubt;  but  I  am  still  your  debtor — 

VERDELIN 

Bosh!  You  have  enough  in  Godeau's  pocket-book  where- 
with to  liquidate;  besides,  to-morrow  the  Basse-Indre  will 
rise  above  par.  It  will  go  up,  up,  till  you  don't  know  how 
far  it  will  go.  Your  letter  worked  wonders,  and  we  were 
obliged  to  publish  on  the  Exchange  the  results  of  our  ex- 
plorations by  boring. — The  mines  will  become  as  valuable  as 
those  of  Mons — and — your  fortune  is  made — when  I  thought 
I  was  going  to  make  mine. 

MERCADET 

I  now  understand  your  rage.  (To  Pierquin)  And  this 
is  the  origin  of  all  the  doubtful  rumors. 


300  MERCADET 

VERDELIN 

Rumors  which  can  only  vanish  before  the  appearance  of 
Godeau's  cash 


SCENE    TWELFTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS,  VIOLETTE  AND  GOULARD. 

GOULARD 
Ah!    my  friend! 

VIOLETTE  (following  him) 
My  dear  Mercadet ! 

GOULARD 
What  a  man  this  Godeau  is! 

MERCADET  (aside) 
Fine! 

VIOLETTE 
What  high  sense  of  honor  he  has ! 

MERCADET  (aside) 
That's  pretty  good! 

GOULARD 
What  magnanimity! 

MERCADET  (aside) 
Prodigious ! 

VERDELIN 
Have  you  seen  him  ? 

VIOLETTE 
Of  course,  I  have! 


MERCADET  301 

PlERQUIN 
Have  you  spoken  to  him? 

GOULARD 
Just  as  I  speak  to  you.    And  I  have  been  paid. 

ALL 
Paid! 

MERCADET 
Paid?    How — how  have  you  been  paid? 

GOULARD 
In  full.     Fifty  thousand  in  drafts. 

MERCADET  (aside) 
That  I  can  understand. 

GOULARD 
And  eight  thousand  francs  net,  in  notes. 

MERCADET 
In  bank-notes? 

GOULABD 

Bank-notes. 

MERCADET  (aside) 

It  is  past  my  understanding.  Ah!  Eight  thousand! — 
Minard  might  have  given  them,  so  that  now  he'll  bring  me 
only  twenty-two  thousand. 

VlOLETTE 

And  I — I,  who  would  have  been  willing  to  make  some  reduc- 
tion— I  have  been  paid  in  full ! 

MERCADET 
All!     (In  a  low  voice  to  him)  I  suppose  in  drafts? 


302  MERCADET 

VlOLETTE 

In  first-class  drafts  to  the  amount  of  eighteen  thousand 
francs. 

MERCADET  (aside) 
What  a  fellow  this  De  la  Brive  is! 

VlOLETTE 

And  the  balance,  the  other  twelve  thousand— 

VERDELIN 
Yes — the  balance? 

VlOLETTE 

In  cash.    Here  it  is.     (He  shows  the  bank-notes.) 

MERCADET  (aside) 
Minard  won't  bring  me  more  than  ten. 

GOULARD  (taking  a  seat  at  the  table) 

And  this  very  moment  he  is  paying  in  the  same  way  all 
your  creditors. 

MERCADET 
In  the  same  way? 

VIOLETTE   (taking  a  seat  at  the  table) 
Yes,  in  drafts,  in  specie,  and  in  bank-notes. 

MERCADET  (forgetting  himself) 

Lord,  have  mercy  upon  me!     (Aside)  Minard  will  bring 
me  nothing  at  all. 

VERDELIN" 
What  is  the  matter  with  you? 

MERCADET 
Me  ? — Nothing — I — 


MERCADET  303 

SCENE  THIRTEENTH. 
THE  SAME  PERSONS  AND  MINARD,  FOLLOWED  BY  CREDITORS. 

MINARD 
I  have  done  your  errand. 

MERCADET    ( trembling ) 
And  you — have  brought  me — a  few — bank-notes? 

MINARD 

A  few  bank-notes  ? — Of  course.  M.  Godeau  wouldn't  let  me 
even  mention  the  thirty  thousand  francs.  (Goulard  and 
Violette  rise.  Minard  stands  before  the  table,  surrounded 
by  creditors.) 

MERCADET 
I  can  quite  understand  that. 

MINARD 

"You  mean,"  he  said,  "a  hundred  thousand  crowns;  here 
are  a  hundred  thousand  crowns,  with  my  compliments !" 
(He  pulls  out  a  large  roll  of  bank-notes,  which  he  places  on 
the  table.) 

MERCADET   (rushing  to  the  table) 

What  the  devil !  (Looking  at  the  notes)  What  is  all  this 
about  ? 

MINARD 
The  three  hundred  thousand  francs. 

PIERQUIN 
My  three  hundred  thousand  francs ! 

VERDELIN 
The  truth  for  once! 


304  MERCADET 

MERCADET    (astounded) 

Three  hundred  thousand  francs ! — I  see  them ! — I  touch 
them ! — I  grasp  them ! — Three  hundred  thousand — where  did 
you  get  them  ? 

MINARD 
I  told  you  he  gave  them  to  me. 

MERCADET   (with  vehemence) 
He!— He— !    Who  is  he? 

MINARD 
Did  not  I  say,  M.  Godeau? 

MERCADET 
What  Godeau?    Which  Godeau? 

MUSTARD 
Why  the  Godeau  who  has  come  back  from  the  Indies. 

MERCADET 
From  the  Indies? 

VlOLETTE 

And  who  is  paying  all  your  debts. 

MERCADET 

What  is  this  ?    I  never  expected  to  strike  a  Gwteau  of  this 
j  kind. 

PlERQUIN 

He  has  gone  crazy!  (All  the  other  creditors  gather  ft  the 
back  of  the  stage.  Verdelin  approaches  them,  and  sp&aks  in 
a  low  voice.) 

VERDELIN  (returning  to  Mercadet) 
It's  true  enough !    All  are  paid  in  full ! 


Copyright,  1QG2,  byj.  D.  A. 


Minard   and    Mercadet. 


MERCADET  306 

MERCADET 

Paid? — Every  one  of  them? — (Goes  from  one  to  the  other 
and  looks  at  the  bank-notes  and  the  drafts  they  have.)  Yes, 
all  settled  with — settled  in  full ! — Ah !  I  see  blue,  red,  violet ! 
A  rainbow  seems  to  surround  me. 


SCENE  FOURTEENTH. 

THE  SAME  PERSONS,  MME.  MERCADET,  JULIE  (entering  at  one 
side)  AND  DE  LA  BRIVE  (entering  at  the  other.) 

MME.  MERCADET 

My  friend,  M.  Godeau,  feels  himself  strong  enough  to  see 
you  all. 

MERCADET 

Come,  daughter,  wife,  Adolphe,  and  my  other  friends, 
gather  round  me,  look  at  me.  I  know  you  would  not  deceive 
me. 

JULIE 
What  is  the  matter,  father? 

MERCADET 

Tell  me  (seeing  De  la  Brive  come  in)  Michonnin,  tell  me 
frankly — 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

Lucidly  for  me,  sir,  I  followed  the  advice  of  madame— -other- 
wise you  would  have  had  two  Godeaus  at  a  time,  for  heaven  has 
brought  back  to  you  the  genuine  man. 

MERCADET 
You  mean  to  say  then — that  he  has  really  returned ! 

YERDELIN 
Do  you  mean  to  say  that  you  didn't  know  it  after  all  ? 


306  MERCADET 

MERCADET  (recovering  himself,  standing  before  the  table 
touching  the  notes) 

I, — of  course  I  did.  Oh,  fortune,  all  hail  to  thee,  queen  of 
monarchs,  archduchess  of  loans,  princess  of  stocks  and  mother 
of  credit !  All  hail !  Thou  long  sought  for,  and  now  for  the 
thousandth  time  come  home  to  us  from  the  Indies ! — Oh !  I've 
always  said  that  Godeau  had  a  mind  of  tireless  energy  and  an 
honest  heart!  (Going  up  to  his  wife  and  daughter)  Kiss 
me! 

MME.  MERCADET  (in  tears) 
Ah !  dear,  dear  husband ! 

MERCADET  (supporting  her) 
And  yon,  what  courage  you  have  shown  in  adversity ! 

MME.  MERCADET 

But  I  am  overcome  by  the  happiness  of  seeing  you  saved — 
wealthy ! — 

MERCADET 

But  honest ! — And  yet  I  must  tell  you  my  wife,  my  chil- 
dren— I  could  not  have  held  out  much  longer — I  was  about 
to  succumb — my  mind  always  on  the  rack — always  on  the 
defensive — a  giant  might  have  yielded.  There  were  moments 
when  I  longed  to  flee  away — Oh !  For  some  place  of  repose ! 
Henceforth  let  us  live  in  the  country. 

MME.  MERCADET 
But  you  will  soon  grow  weary  of  it. 

MERCADET 

No,  for  I  shall  be  a  witness  in  their  happiness.  (Pointing 
to  Minard  and  Julie.)  And  after  all  this  financial  traffic  I 
shall  devote  myself  to  agriculture;  the  study  of  agriculture 
will  never  prove  tedious.  (To  the  creditors)  Gentlemen,  we 
will  continue  to  be  good  friends,  but  will  have  no  more  busi- 


MERCADET  307 

nees  transactions.     (To  De  la  Brive)    M.  de  la  Brive,  let  me 
pay  back  10  you  your  forty-eight  thousand  francs. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
Ah!  sir — 

MERCADET 
And  I  will  lend  you  ten  thousand  more. 

DE  LA  BRIVE 

Ten  thousand  francs?  But  I  don't  know  when  I  shall  be 
able — 

MERCADET 

You  weed  have  no  scruples ;  take  them — for  I  have  a 
scheme — 

DE  LA  BRIVE 
I  accept  them. 

MERCADET 

Ah!  It  ie  one  of  my  dreams.  Gentlemen  (to  the  creditors 
who  are  standing  in  a  row)  I  am  a — creditor ! 

MMK.  MERCADET   (pointing  to  the  door) 
My  dear,  he  is  waiting  for  us. 

MERCADET 

Yes,  let  us  go  in.  I  have  so  many  times  drawn  your  atten- 
tion to  Godeau,  that  I  certainly  have  the  right  to  see  him. 
Let  us  go  in  and  see  Godeau ! 

Final  Curtain. 


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